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Stocks in the information Thursday

From Standard & Poor’s Equity Research

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MBIA Inc. (MBI) announces that its insurance subsidiary, MBIA Insurance Corp., has agreed to reinsure a portfolio of U.S. national finance bonds insured by Financial Guaranty Insurance Company with aggregate net par outstanding estimated to be approximately $184 billion in the same proportion that of Sept. 30, 2008. MBIA will receive unearned upfront premiums, net of a ceding commission paid to FGIC, of about $741 million in connection with the reinsurance.

Fannie Mae (FNM) CEO Dan Mudd announces series of senior executive appointments, effective immediately, to oversee and implement the company’s recently announced capital management and regard loss reduction plan. Names David Hisey as CFO (replacing Stephen Swad), Peter Niculescu as Chief Business Officer (replacing Robert Levin, who is retiring), and Michael Shaw as Chief Risk Officer (replacing Enrico Dallavecchia).

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) posts $0.08, vs. $0.23 a year ago, second quarter non-GAAP EPS on 12% lower same-store sales (SSS), 4.6% lower total sales. Sees 13.5%-15.5% third deal out SSS sales drop vs. previous decline of 6.5%-8.5% decline, $802-$820 million total sales, vs. $869-$887 million sales. Cuts financial year 2009 GAAP EPS est. to $1.03-$1.15 from $1.45-$1.58.

Brown-Forman (BF.B) posts $0.73, vs. $0.77, first quarter EPS as a $22 million pre-tax ($16 million after-tax) non-cash ascribe related to an abnormal number of agave plants identified during the first quarter as indifferent or departure offsets a 6.9% income arise. Due to the charge, reduces fiscal year 2009 EPS guidance to $3.60-$3.85.

Tiffany & Co. (TIF) posts $0.63, vs. $0.29, maintainer quarter EPS on 1% lower same-store sales, 11% higher total sales. Raises $2.80-$2.90 fiscal year 2009 EPS est. to $2.82-$2.92 on worldwide sales progress of near 9%, that based on continued vigorous growth in Europe and Asia-Pacific (other than Japan) and a return to growth in to be compared U.S. store sales in the fourth quarter due to an easier year-over-year comparison. Also expects the fiscal year 2009 operating margin to increase slightly over the prior year.

Sears Holdings (SHLD) posts $0.21 (excluding gain), vs. $1.15, second quarter EPS steady 6.7% drop in Sears Domestic’s same-store sales, 5.6% globule in in Kmart’s same-store sales, 4.1% total revenue drop. Notes furniture of slowing economy, disgrace aggravated margin generated at both Kmart and Sears Domestic. Sees fiscal year 2009 EBITDA comparable to, yet no longer exceeding, last year’s EBITDA.

Del Monte Foods (DLM) posts $0.04 first quarter loss from continuing operations vs. $0.01 EPS, as higher inflationary and other operational costs offset a 16% rise in sales. Sees fiscal year 2009 EPS from continuing operations at the degrade end of its $0.58-$0.62 guidance range, in succession net sales growth of 6%-8%.

Fred’s (FRED) posts $0.03, vs. $0.08 EPS (GAAP), as costs associated with the closing of 50 stores and single pharmacy during the latest quarter offset a 4.9% rise in same-store sales, a 5.0% rise in entire sales. Excluding such costs, second quarter EPS was $0.10. For the third quarter, it sees $0.16-$0.18 EPS forward 1%-3% higher same-store sales, bar total sales, given to reflection the closing of 75 stores and 22 pharmacies in line with FRED’s planned restructuring program. For fiscal year 2009, still sees EPS in the range of $0.54-$0.58, including net costs relative to stock closings; excluding such costs, sees EPS at $0.72-$0.76.