($ADM) Archer Daniels Midland Co. – Positive Earnings Revisions

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – December 9, 2009 – Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry’s leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (EEP), Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM), Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL) and Big Lots Inc. (BIG).
    
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +26%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% – but Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%.

Here is a summary of today's selected stocks that are now highly rated by Zacks:          
       
Aggressive Growth – Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (EEP)
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. estimates continue to climb as the company's most recent project is expected to go into production next year.

Zacks Guide to Aggressive Growth Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4309

Growth & Income – Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM)
Archer Daniels Midland Co. is rebounding steadily after the commodities bubble burst last year. Estimates moving forward are showing steady growth.

Zacks Guide to Growth & Income Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4310
  
Momentum – Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL)
Trina Solar Ltd. reported strong Q3 results in mid November that have pushed its share price to a new 52-weke high.

Zacks Guide to Momentum Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4311

Value – Big Lots Inc. (BIG)
Big Lots Inc. recently posted a record third quarter as it surprised on estimates for the fourth quarter in a row. The company raised fourth quarter and full year guidance. Big Lots trades at 12.9x forward earnings.

Zacks Guide to Value Investing (free!): http://at.zacks.com/?id=4312

How to Regularly Access Picks from the Zacks Rank Discovery for Free:  http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607
 
Underlying the four free stock picks is a simple truth that first appeared in a Financial Analysts Journal article published in 1979. Leonard Zacks, a Ph.D. in Mathematics from M.I.T. found that "earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices."  Zacks #1 Rank is awarded to a stock when analysts sharply upgrade their estimates of what the company will earn.

Today, Zacks is promoting its stock recommendations by offering four daily picks free to those who register at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607 

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Len Zacks. The company continually processes stock reports issued by 3,000 analysts from 150 brokerage firms.  It monitors more than 200,000 earnings estimates, looking for changes.

Then, when changes are discovered, they’re applied to help assign more than 4,400 stocks into five Zacks Rank categories: #1 Strong Buy, #2 Buy, #3 Hold, #4 Sell, and #5 Strong Sell. This proprietary stock-picking system continues to outperform the market by a nearly 3-to-1 margin. 
  
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Zacks.com

Aggressive Growth Stocks:
Contact: Bill Wilton
Phone: 312-265-9277

or

Growth & Income Stocks:
Contact: Alex Kolb
Phone: 312-265-9149

or

Momentum Stocks:
Contact: Michael Vodicka
Phone: 312-265-9226

or

Value Stocks:
Contact: Tracey Ryniec
Phone: 312-265-9232

Email: pr@zacks.com
Visit: www.zacks.com

Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
 

Company Description

Archer Daniels is a global agriculture company, processing crops into food ingredients, agricultural feed, renewable fuels, and other alternative chemicals.

EPS Surprise

In the company's latest earnings report, on Nov 3, Archer Daniels posted earnings per share of 77 cents, besting the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 21 cents. This is down sharply form last year's $1.62.

Sales where also down, to just under $15 billion, a 29% decrease. Volumes remained steady, but underlying commodity prices lead to lower selling prices. Foreign exchange translation also hit the sales figure.

While these results seem less than impressive, the sequential growth is strong and the CEO sees improving demand moving forward.

Revisions Coming In

The full-year consensus for fiscal 2010 is now $2.72, up from $2.38 following the release as estimates continue to trickle in. Next year's Forecasts are averaging $2.88, up from $2.67.

These levels project modes growth of 3% this year and another 6% next year.

Income and Value

Archer Daniel is maintaining a dividend payment of 14 cents per quarter, roughly a 1.8% yield. Shares of ADM continue to trade at a great value as well, just 11.5 times forward earnings.

The Chart

In the chart below, you can see the EPS come crashing down after the commodities bubble burst. However, looking forward, the red line, you can see the steady increase expected into the future.

Bill Wilton is the Growth Stock Strategist for Zacks.com. He is also the Editor in charge of the market-beating Zacks Growth Trader serviceZacks Investment Research

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

• 3M Co (MMM)
• Acuity Brands Inc (AYI)
• Agilent Technologies Inc (A)
• American Apparel Inc (APP)
• American Equity Investment Life Holding Co (AEL)
• Archer-Daniels-Midland Co (ADM)
• AudioCodes Ltd (AUDC)
• Beneficial Mutual Bancorp Inc (BNCL)
• Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp (BGFV)
• Big Lots Inc (BIG)
• Briggs & Stratton Corp (BGG)
• Compellent Technologies Inc (CML)
• Conexant Systems Inc (CNXT)
• Corinthian Colleges Inc (COCO)
• Crosstex Energy Inc (XTXI)
• Ctrip.com International Ltd (CTRP)
• Dillard's Inc (DDS)
• Dolan Media Co (DM)
• Donaldson Co Inc (DCI)
• RR Donnelley & Sons Co (RRD)
• Dover Corp (DOV)
• Dow Chemical Co (DOW)
• Drew Industries Inc (DW)
• Encore Capital Group Inc (ECPG)
• Genoptix Inc (GXDX)
• Kadant Inc (KAI)
• Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc (KERX)
• Lubrizol Corp (LZ)
• Odyssey HealthCare Inc (ODSY)
• Phillips-Van Heusen Corp (PVH)
• Porter Bancorp Inc (PBIB)
• RCM Technologies Inc (RCMT)
• Rewards Network Inc (DINE)
• Scientific Learning Corp (SCIL)
• Sirona Dental Systems Inc (SIRO)
• Skechers U.S.A. Inc (SKX)
• Stanley Works (SWK)
• SuperGen Inc (SUPG)
• Teradata Corp (TDC)
• Texas Instruments Inc (TXN)
• Trailer Bridge Inc (TRBR)
• Travelers Cos Inc (TRV)
• Travelzoo Inc (TZOO)
• Trina Solar Ltd (TSL)
• Tuesday Morning Corp (TUES)
• United America Indemnity Ltd (INDM)
• WABCO Holdings Inc (WBC)

By Jeff St. John

The Department of Energy said Friday it would give $564 million in stimulus funding to 19 projects aimed at turning biomass into fuels, chemicals and power.

CitiGoup(NYSE: C) hosted its first 1st annual food manufacturing conference on December 3, 2009. The conference was held at New York City.

The Conference reinforced Citi’s positive outlook about the food industry for the year 2010. The Conference was attended by representatives from companies such as Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB), HJ Heinz (NYSE: HNZ), Archer Daniel Midlands (NYSE: ADM) and others.

Various Company representatives presented an upbeat trend for year 2010. Heinz and ADM gave a positive guidance for the coming year. According to Mr. Leon Kalvaria, Vice Chairman, Institutional Clients Group at Citi, the Food sector is expected to remain buzzing with Merger & Acquisitions. Gaining entry in a new market and cost control are likely to be the biggest driver for M&A activities. Heinz presented a positive outlook for emerging markets. Heinz management stated that emerging markets are likely to contribute towards 20% of its revenue by Y2013. Currently the emerging markets’ share is at 15%.

The packaged food segment is expected to grow on volume basis. This was confirmed by representatives from Heinz and Campbell soups. According to them, new products and marketing efforts would affect the top-line in a bigger way in Y2010. They also stated that their focus would be on the introduction of new products as the market is expected to be driven by volume instead of pricing.

Heinz forecasted that the last six months of Y2010 are expected to see 25%-30% increase in marketing spending. On the other hand, grain processors such as Archer Daniels Midlands and Bunge (NYSE: BG) presented a mixed scenario for the coming year. Bunge expressed hope that fertilizers losses incurred in Y2009 would not be repeated in Y2010. Archer Daniels Midlands stated that improving trend in Ethanol and oilseed was encouraging but also cautioned that the trend is likely to remain volatile.

By Brad Zigler

Feline fans hate to hear the phrase, "There's more than one way to skin a cat," but investors still use it to explain the alternative routes taken to some of their portfolio exposures.