Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day Highlights: Center Financial, Liberty Property Trust, Alberto-Culver and Ingersoll Rand.

CHICAGO -- Zacks Equity Research highlights Center Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CLFC) as the Bull of the Day and Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LRY) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Alberto-Culver Company (NYSE: ACV) and Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR). Full analysis of all four stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2676.

Here is a synopsis of all four stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Our Bull of the Day recommendation is for Center Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CLFC). The stock is down in recent days much more than its banking peers overall, and we see no reason for the decline. We see this as a short-term opportunity to own a quality institution at a discounted valuation. CLFC remains the cheapest stock in the peer group on both a PEG basis and on ROE-adjusted P/B. We project core ROE of 21% in 2006, well above peer levels. We also expect roughly $1.70 in book value growth over the next 12 months, implying nearly $5 of price appreciation at the current P/B multiple. Q3 was weak on an EPS basis due to a large provision, but solid otherwise. Our estimates remain above consensus for both Q4 and 2007.

Bear of the Day:

Our Bear of the Day recommendation is for Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LRY). The company had a disappointing quarter, missing our 3rd quarter FFO estimates by $0.04 per share. 3rd quarter results were in line with Street estimates. Overall operating results are slowly improving, and the company is finally reporting increases on new leases. Despite a low relative valuation, the company has not been able to get meaningful growth out of a portfolio that is in average sub-markets. Liberty is focusing on development which could prove beneficial down the road, although most projects will not add to earnings in the near term. We rate the company a sell due to our expectation of little to zero FFO growth in 2007. We find this troubling as office and industrial real estate fundamentals continue to improve across the country.

Analyst Blog:

The new Alberto-Culver Company (NYSE: ACV) should continue on the same growth strategy of the old Alberto-Culver, which was based on product innovation, acquisitions, and extensive marketing support. However, given the increased debt burden from the special dividend and middle range valuation, we initiate coverage with a Hold rating. The old Alberto-Culver Company traded in a P/E multiple range of 19 to 27 over the last five years, reflecting the company's higher-than-average growth profile. Given that management will continue on the same growth strategy based on product innovation, acquisitions and marketing support, we expect the same P/E range for the new Alberto-Culver Company. The target price of $21.50 is based on a 22 P/E on our fiscal 2007 earnings estimate.

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR) reported third quarter EPS of $0.85, below our expectations of $0.87, on account of a 35% decline in North American (NA) Bobcat sales, a larger-than-expected rise in materials costs, and weaker-than-anticipated reduction in residential security sales. Third-quarter orders rose 4%, which was 1% less than we expected, despite the strength in International markets. We expect the weakness in NA residential construction activity to pressure Bobcat sales in the fourth quarter as well as in FY07. As a result, we are cutting our fourth quarter FY06 and FY07 EPS estimates to $0.78 and $3.70, respectively, down from $0.94 and $3.93. To offset the NA sales slowdown, IR plans to reduce employee headcount, pursue bolt-on acquisitions, and boost investment spending in emerging markets.

Get the full analysis of all four 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.

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