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Deckers Outdoor's, Hhgregg, Tiffany & Company, Signet Jewelers Limited andZale

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  Published in House and Home on Monday, December 20th 2010 at 7:11 GMT by Market Wire
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CHICAGO--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Zacks Equity Research ] highlights: Deckers Outdoor's(Nasdaq: [ DECK ]) as the Bull of the Day and Hhgregg Inc.(NYSE: [ HGG ]) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Tiffany & Company(NYSE: [ TIF ]), Signet Jewelers Limited(NYSE: [ SIG ]) andZale Corporation(NYSE: [ ZLC ]).

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

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

[ Bull of the Day ]:

Deckers Outdoor's(Nasdaq: [ DECK ]) sustained focus on new product introductions and geographic expansion has helped achieved robust growth. The company delivered better-than-expected third-quarter 2010 results on the heels of strong demand for the product lines under the UGG and Teva brands.

The international markets provide a significant growth opportunity, and we remain optimistic about the company's incremental sales and earnings potential. Riding on the back of robust results, Deckers raised its fiscal 2010 outlook. Management now expects total revenue to increase by 16%, and earnings per share to rise by 22%.

The company also portrays a healthy balance sheet. The blend of ample liquidity, in-demand inventory and innovative products, positions it to capitalize on future growth opportunities. Consequently, we have an Outperform recommendation on the stock.

[ Bear of the Day ]:

Hhgregg Inc.(NYSE: [ HGG ]) is a leading specialty retailer of premium video products, brand name appliances, audio products and accessories. Through its superior purchase experience, the company is able to generate customer loyalty, leading to referrals and finally produce repeat business.

However, the company's profitability primarily depends on its ability to anticipate and respond in a timely manner to trends in consumer preferences relating to major household appliances and consumer electronics. In addition, the fierce competition and the still-recovering economy concerns us.

Our long-term Underperform recommendation on the stock indicates that it will perform below the market. Our $22.00 target price, 16.2x 2011 EPS, reflects this view.

Latest Posts on the Zacks [ Analyst Blog ]:

Tiffany Expected to Outshine

We recently upgraded our recommendation onTiffany & Company(NYSE: [ TIF ]), a high-end jewelry designer, manufacturer and retailer, to Outperform with a price target of $70.00. Previously, we had a Neutral rating on the stock.

Tiffany is well positioned to support robust sales and earnings growth by leveraging capital investments made over the past several years in distribution, manufacturing and diamond sourcing processes. Moreover, with nearly half of the total sales generated internationally, we believe that the company is well diversified from a regional perspective as well.

The jewelry market was hit hard by the recent global meltdown, which triggered a shift in focus to cheaper private label brands. But as the recession eased, demand for luxury items also improved.

Tiffany posted net sales of $681.7 million during third-quarter 2010, up 14% from the prior-year quarter, signaling a renewed demand for jewelry in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Japan and European regions. Tiffany now anticipates total net sales for fiscal 2010 to rise by 12%.

The quarterly earnings of 46 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 36 cents, and rose 39% from 33 cents earned in the prior-year quarter. Management remained optimistic about Tiffanya™s performance, and forecasts fiscal 2010 earnings in the range of $2.72 to $2.77 per share, up from its previous guidance range of $2.60 to $2.65.

The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2010 is $2.75, which rose 13 cents, with 11 out 16 analysts increasing their projections, and 1 analyst lowering the estimate in the last 30 days.

Despite stiff competition fromSignet Jewelers Limited(NYSE: [ SIG ]) andZale Corporation(NYSE: [ ZLC ]), Tiffany still retains a significant position in the world jewelry market due to its distinctive brand appeal. The company now intends to expand its distribution network by adding stores in both new and existing markets.

Tiffany is focused on opening smaller stores, offering selected collections of lower priced higher-margin product, which in turn will boost store productivity. Tiffany concentrates on improving sales per square foot through an increase in customer traffic and converting them into potential buyers through targeted advertising, ongoing sales training and customer-oriented initiatives.

Get the full analysis of all these stocks by going to [ http://at.zacks.com/?id=2649 ].

About the Bull and Bear of the Day

Every day, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research select two stocks that are likely to outperform (Bull) or underperform (Bear) the markets over the next 3-6 months.

About the Analyst Blog

Updated throughout every trading day, the [ Analyst Blog ] provides analysis from Zacks Equity Research about the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets.

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