Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Dell Inc., Gander Mountain, Gol Linhas Aereas, Zumiez, Inc. and Intuit Inc.

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: Dell Inc. (Nasdaq: DELL), Gander Mountain Company (Nasdaq: GMTN), Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL), Zumiez, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZUMZ) and Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU).

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Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

DELL Sell Rating Articulated

Dell Inc. (Nasdaq: DELL) is the global leader in direct marketing of computing products and services. The company designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and offers support to a wide range of computer systems that are customized to meet varied customer requirements. According to IDC, Dell is the number one supplier of PC systems in the United States, and the number two supplier worldwide.

The rapid decline in corporate profits, highly illiquid capital markets, and the recessionary outlook are likely to dampen corporate capital spending. This is likely to have a major impact on Dell's server business. Added to this is the continued decline in consumer spending as shown by the decrease in sales of PCs and cell phones over recent months.

Gander Mountain in Cold Environs

Gander Mountain Company (Nasdaq: GMTN), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a specialty retailer that offers its outdoor lifestyle customers a broad range of hunting, fishing, and camping equipment and related accessories. The company's merchandise was originally offered to customers via a catalog operation, from 1960 until 1996, when the initial retail stores opened.

Gander Mountain released preliminary third quarter results that were in-line with our estimates. The company expects to report sales of $270 million and EPS of $0.03. We are slightly adjusting our estimates for 2008 and 2009. We continue to expect substantial improvement in the company's operating profit margins in the second half of 2008 and 2009. Even so, Gander Mountain Company's business is still struggling in this difficult retail environment.

GOL Still Trying to Score

We are keeping our Hold recommendation on Brazilian low-fare airline Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL) with a target price of US$3.75. The company has been enjoying impressive growth in the Brazilian domestic airline industry for the last few years, and the short-term growth outlook remains encouraging.

Third-quarter 2008 results were not that encouraging. Total operating revenue was R$1,788.3 million (US$1,077.3 million), a 37.2% increase over the same period of 2007, representing a 35.5% year-over-year increase in passenger revenues and a 55.0% year-over-year rise in cargo revenues. Moreover, the credit crunch and the tight monetary policy in Brazil are matters of huge concern in the very short term.

Zumiez Out of Zoom?

Zumiez, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZUMZ) is a specialty retailer of action sports related apparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories. The company's target market is young men and women between the ages of 12 and 24 who seek popular brands that represent a lifestyle centered on activities that include skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, BMX and motocross.

Zumiez reported 3rd quarter results that were in line with the company's recently lowered guidance. Management reiterated its full-year EPS guidance of $0.52-$0.57. We continue to expect a weak consumer into 2009 because macro headwinds (housing, weak economy, and higher unemployment) will persist for some time. We also expect the company's sales trends and profit margins will remain under pressure.

Intuit Adjusting for Slowdown

Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU) reported revenues of $481 million in Q1:FY09, up 8% year-over-year and 0.7% quarter-over-quarter. GAAP EPS was ($0.16) while non-GAAP EPS of ($0.09) was better than the consensus estimate of ($0.12).

Most operating segments recorded growth except the ‘Other’ business segment, which is being hit by a relatively strong dollar. Going forward, management downgraded its guidance for fiscal 2009. INTU expects to report revenues between $3.26 billion and $3.38 billion, up 6% - 10% from fiscal 2008, but down from the prior revenue guidance of $3.35 billion $3.48 billion.

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