Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Acorda Therapeutics, Trimble Navigation Ltd., Petrobras, China Petrochemical Corporation and Foster Wheeler AG.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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: Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACOR), Trimble Navigation Ltd. (NASDAQ: TRMB), Petrobras (NYSE: PBR), China Petrochemical Corporation (NYSE: SNP) and Foster Wheeler AG (NASDAQ: FWLT).

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Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Should You Be Eyeing Acorda?

Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACOR) released financial results for the 4th quarter 2009 on February 24, 2009. Revenues came in at $12.5 million and were comprised of $14.0 million in Zanaflex product sales, $1.5 million in discounts and product return allowances.

Management reported that Zanaflex was cash-flow positive in 2008, and will remain cash-flow positive again in 2009. Net Zanaflex sales of $12.5 million were dead-on with our forecast. Net loss of the quarter totaled $20.2 million, or $0.54 per share.

Trimble Navigation Now a Sell

Trimble Navigation Ltd. (NASDAQ: TRMB) is an OEM [original equipment manufacturer] of GPS-based products and control systems. We like the stock long-term, but one segment has us worried over the next 6 quarters.

The Engineering and Construction (E&C) segment is the largest unit, accounting for 56% of fiscal 2008 revenue. Primary applications include surveying, machine control and construction layout products, which target the building, highway, marine, mining and general construction verticals.

Petrobras Deals with China

Last week, Petrobras (NYSE: PBR) announced it has signed two Memorandums of Understanding with Chinese institutions and an export oil contract with UNIPEC Asia Co. Ltd. -- a subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation, or SINOPEC (NYSE: SNP) -- to export around 100 thousand barrels of oil per day.

The amount of the deal is estimated as US$10 Billion in loans for Petrobras in exchange of future oil exports. Indeed, Petrobras is in need of cash in order to continue its investment programs to develop the giant's oil field in the pre-salt basin.

However, due to the depressed levels of oil prices the huge reserves don’t seem to be a great opportunity. We are keeping our Hold recommendation on Petrobras.

Foster Wheeler Boom is Over

So sayeth the CEO of Foster Wheeler AG (NASDAQ: FWLT) in this morning's Q4-08 conference call. The Company had a reasonably good quarter with respect to revenues and earnings --Q4-08 revenues of $1.639 billion were up 11.9% over Q4-07, net income rose 27.9% to $99.882 million and EPS climbed 38.95% to $0.75 (still a bit shy of our $0.80 estimate).

But the reality of the situation was brought home by the following irrefutable facts: new orders booked in the quarter were down 87.4% to $581.5 million and backlog was off by 41.6% to $5.504 billion. No matter how you cut it, that ain't good! Further, the results were affected by numerous recurring "non-recurring items."

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