Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day Highlights: Comstock Resources, Molson Coors, AAR Corp., Acusphere and Taubman Centers

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2676.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day: Comstock Resources (NYSE: CRK)

With first-quarter 2008 volumes up 25% year over year, we expect full-year growth to be approximately 20%. Additionally, the Bois d'Arc sale to Stone Energy is expected to streamline Comstock's operations and position it to function as a pure play onshore natural gas producer. The Haynesville Shale play offers significant long-term reserve-add potential going forward.

Comstock's drilling success in the Cotton Valley formation is another catalyst for future production growth. We are increasing our 2008 ($4.25 vs. $3.40) and 2009 ($3.95 vs. $3.52) EPS estimates.

Bear of the Day: Molson Coors Brewing Co. (NYSE: TAP)

Higher input costs are compressing the company's overall gross margin and smoking bans are negatively impacting the U.K. operations. Of particular concern is the cost rationalization moves by the major brewers that are expected to result in the loss of the positive pricing trends enjoyed by the industry for the last two years. Therefore, a Sell rating is initiated.

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AAR Corporation (NYSE: AIR)

We downgrade our rating on AAR Corp. that provides goods and services to both the domestic commercial airlines and the military services from Buy to Hold. This is in consideration of the dismal outlook for the domestic airline industry & the political uncertainties regarding defense expenditures.

On the commercial side, demand for AIR's offerings increases with the expansion and aging of fleet. With these growing requirements, airlines outsource more maintenance, repair and overhaul work.

Acusphere, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACUS)

Although Acusphere's Imagify was not specifically discussed at the meeting, we find it encouraging that the guidelines put forth by the FDA on what is necessary to gain approval for future contrast agents, including a large, randomized clinical program effectively powered to detect significant safety concerns, all seem to have been put in place and accomplished with the RAMP-1 and RAMP-2 program.

We note that between RAMP-1 (n=321) and RAMP-2 (n=377), along with over 300 patients in earlier-stage testing, Imagify has been studied in over 1000 patients. During the phase III (randomized) RAMP program, Imagify was well-tolerated with the majority of adverse effects (AEs) reported being mild in intensity, transient, and resolved without residual effects. Therefore, given the FDA's paramount focus on patient safety following what occurred with Definity and Optison last year, we think Imagify should have smooth sailing in this regard.

Taubman Centers (NYSE: TCO)

Taubman Centers' malls continue to perform relatively well. Retail spending has held up at the company's high end malls and, operationally, TCO will outperform peers in 2008. TCO reported year-over-year increases in sales, rent per square foot, and occupancy in the first-quarter.

Additionally, the company has some attractive domestic and international development projects in the pipeline that will incrementally add to earnings over the next several years. However, the US economy is faltering and consumer spending patterns have been dismal in 2008. We are concerned about retail stocks in an inflationary and weakening economic environment. Thus, we maintain our Hold rating on the shares.

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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.

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