Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day Highlights: The Hershey Company, Amazon.com, Cousins Properties and Colgate-Palmolive.

CHICAGO -- Zacks Equity Research highlights The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) the Bull of the Day and Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) and Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL). 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 The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY). Double-digit earnings growth is the result of well-executed stock-keeping units (SKU) rationalization and supply chain improvement plans. In addition, a strong pipeline of new products is being introduced in 2006. The company's operating margin is expanding from cost cutting efforts and the share repurchase plan continues. Since the stock is at the low end of its historical valuation range, Hershey's stock is attractive and being upgraded to a Buy.

Bear of the Day:

Our Bear of the Day recommendation is for Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN). We remain negative on AMZN shares, due to worsening fundamentals, contracting profit margins, and deteriorating operating leverage. What's more, the company continues to invest in new businesses, which is not translating into bottom-line growth. Given this situation, we think investors will soon begin to realize that Amazon.com does not deserve its expensive valuation. As such, we reiterate our Sell rating and $20 target price, which is roughly 30 times our 2007 EPS estimate.

Analyst Blog:

We continue to rate Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) a Hold. Operationally, office fundamentals are slightly improving the company's same store portfolio. While the company trades at an inflated forward FFO multiple, CUZ has the ability to generate value through its large and diversified development pipeline. The company has faced earnings dilution due to a large dispositions program over the past few years, although Cousins is now focusing on higher yielding developments. Cousins is also continuing to become a more diversified company, as it is focusing more and more on land and condominium development.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) has had a stellar long-term growth record. The company's tight financial controls and history of new product innovations coupled with efforts to enhance shareholder value through share repurchases and dividend increases support a positive long-term view on the stock. However, intensifying competition in Europe, rising raw material/fuel costs, and the costs related to the implementation of the restructuring plan remain concerns. Hence, a Hold rating is recommended.

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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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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