Stocks Featured in Zacks Equity Research Analyst Blog

Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. In a recent Analyst Blog post, the team highlighted five stocks: Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX), Schering-Plough (NYSE: SGP), Vocus (NASDAQ: VOCS), and Sohu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU). These stocks demonstrate diverse growth potential and emerging opportunities in the tech and healthcare sectors.

Key Takeaways:

• Intel is investing $7 billion over two years to build advanced chip manufacturing facilities in the United States, creating high-paying jobs.
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) is a potentially lucrative long-term investment due to the promising sales of telaprevir, a treatment for hepatitis C.
• Vocus (VOCS) has achieved 38 consecutive quarters of revenue growth since its first on-demand version in 1999, supported by its Software-as-a-Service model and strategic acquisitions.
• Sohu.com, Inc. (SOHU) is the second-largest internet portal in China, with a strong pipeline for new online games and a debt-free balance sheet.
• Schering-Plough (SGP) releases data on its Phase III candidate, boceprevir, which negatively impacts Vertex stock.

Statistics:

• Intel will spend $7 billion over two years on advanced chip manufacturing facilities in the United States.
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals ended 2008 with $830 million in cash reserves.
• Vocus has grown its customer base from 766 in fiscal 2003 to 3,379 in Q408.
• Sohu.com, Inc. generated record total revenues and net income for the 6th consecutive quarter in Q408.

Sources:

• Zacks.com
• Profit from the Pros newsletter (http://at.zacks.com/?id=4579)
• Zacks Equity Research press release
• Zacks Investment Research, Inc. (http://www.zacks.com/performance)