Full analysis of all these stocks is available at: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2678

Bull of the Day

AmSurg Corporation (Nasdaq: AMSG) is a leading operator of single-specialty practice-based ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in the U.S. The company recently reported net earnings from continuing operations of $12.862M (up 13% y/y) with EPS of $0.40 in-line with consensus estimates.

The quarter was characterized by a solid increase in procedure volume (up 9.5% y/y) despite essentially flat y/y same-store revenues, which reflected the impact of Medicare reimbursement cuts and the weaker economy. Nonetheless, the stock has been under further pressure given uncertainties related to healthcare reform and potential changes to Medicare.

We believe the stock has been oversold and move to a Buy recommendation at current levels. We have valued shares of AmSurg on a forward price/earnings (P/E) basis, as well as in comparison to similar firms in the healthcare facilities sector. Our $20 target price represents a multiple of 12x our FY09 EPS estimate of $1.66.

Bear of the Day

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH) is a global leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of reconstructive implants, and trauma and related orthopedic surgical products.

We believe the increase in unemployment will reduce the number of insured patients. As a result, procedures may be subject to delays, reducing revenue growth in the near-term.

On the upcoming call, we are listening for whether the stronger dollar will reverse the tailwind revenues have received over the past few years, if efforts to increase financial leverage during the recent credit crisis may have met obstacles, and if efforts to control prices of commodity inputs (futures) may pressure gross margins as prices have since retreated.

Recent Analysis from the Analyst Blog

Gannett Website Fuels Stock Surge

Gannett (NYSE: GCI) shares rocketed 14% today after the company reported that online advertising revenue at USA Today, its flagship domestic paper, grew 27% year-over-year in February.

This is the largest online revenue increase among the national newspapers, and is in stark contrast to many, including The New York Times (NYSE: NYT), which began to suffer recession-induced declines in online ad revenues in 4Q08.