Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: AK Steel Holding Corp, Guess? Inc, AIG, Sony Corp and Orchid Cellmark Inc.

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: AK Steel Holding Corp (NYSE: AKS), Guess? Inc (NYSE: GES), AIG (NYSE: AIG), Sony Corp (NYSE: SNE) and Orchid Cellmark Inc (NASDAQ: ORCH).

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Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Buy AK Steel Up to $11

Ohio-based AK Steel Holding Corp (NYSE: AKS) is a leading producer of flat-rolled carbon, stainless, electrical steel and tubular products. It operates seven steel making and finishing plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Kentucky.

We expect AK Steel's cost reduction efforts and renegotiated higher-priced contracts to prevent excessive margin deterioration in light of higher commodity costs. The company has greater product diversification compared to its peers and is focusing on markets and products which have the greatest long-term potential to succeed.

Don't Guess? Stay Neutral

Guess? Inc. (NYSE: GES) reported better-than-expected results for the 4th quarter thanks to early product shipments in its European segment and a lower tax rate. Management issued guidance for the first quarter, however, was well below consensus estimates. Guess did not provide guidance for fiscal year 2010.

For the 1st quarter, Guess expects revenue of $425-$445 million and EPS of $0.26-$0.30. We are lowering our estimates accordingly. The company's revenue and profit margins will continue to be negatively affected by the weak economic environment and a stronger US dollar.

Congress' AIG Tax Unconstitutional?

We need to set aside our self-righteous indignation with respect to AIG (NYSE: AIG) paying bonuses for a moment.

We are concerned with what could be viewed as House of Representatives attempting to set aside our Constitution with its proposed ex post facto "after the fact" bill.

For a Democratic-led House HR1586 to have approved by a 328-93 vote ("yes" votes were 243 Democrats and 85 Republicans, with 6 Democrats and 87 Republicans opposed) to impose a 90% "punishment tax" on bonuses given to employees with family incomes above $250,000 at AIG (and other companies that received at least $5.0 billion in government bailout money) cheapens our entire political and judicial systems.

Sony Corp. Struggles Continue

We believe Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) will continue to struggle as it faces competition from other innovative digital products and from low-cost Asian manufacturers as the consumer market slows.

Sony posted lackluster Q3 results, hurt by sluggish sales in its core electronics segment due to the ongoing recession. Strong yen, weak consumer demand, sliding consumer spending, and an intensifying price competition are eating into its profits. SNE trimmed its forecast for fiscal 2008 and expects to record its first net loss in 14 years with much lower operating income.

Orchid Cellmark a DNA Play

Orchid Cellmark Inc. (NASDAQ: ORCH) is a leading provider of DNA testing services for forensic, human identity and agricultural applications in the U.S. and the U.K.

Through its facility in the U.K., Orchid conducted genotyping services under the U.K. government's project to help British farmers breed sheep with reduced susceptibility to the animal disease scrapie. The company expanded its reach in the U.S. with the acquisition of ReliaGene in October 2007.

The company is now leveraging its expertise in DNA testing to enter into new markets like pork traceability, immigration testing and security applications. The company has won a major part of the mega tender in the U.K., which will result in annual revenues of $10 million for the next 3 years.

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