Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Loews Corp., CNA Financial Corp., Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., Boardwalk Pipeline Partners L.P. and Hewlett-Packard

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: Loews Corp. (NYSE: L), CNA Financial Corp. (NYSE: CNA), Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO), Boardwalk Pipeline Partners L.P. (NYSE: BWP) and Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ).

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Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Loews Corp. a Hold for Now

Loews Corporation (NYSE: L) experienced a 3Q08 net loss from continuing operations came of $0.33 per share, the result of higher-than-expected catastrophe losses and investment losses at CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE: CNA), which more than offset the improved results at the energy and drilling subsidiaries -- HighMount Exploration, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO) and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners L.P. (NYSE: BWP).

The spin-off of Lorillard in 2Q08 eliminated the company's overhang from tobacco litigation, permitting an increased focuses on broadening hydrocarbon interests. While the company has announced large capital investments (which would benefit results in the future), we reiterate our Hold recommendation as of now.

H-P with Slowing Revenue Risks

Following strong results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2008, Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ) has announced better-than-expected preliminary results for the fourth quarter and has guided for a robust fiscal 2009. However, we remain concerned that several factors will cause revenue to slow in the future.

First, HPQ's acquisition of EDS adds a slower-growth company to its revenue base. Next, the global economy is slowing, and although Hewlett-Packard Co. has benefited from 68.0% of revenue coming from overseas, this could hurt going into next year.

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