EOPT Labeled Zacks 'Bear of the Day'

Zacks Equity Research, Chicago, has declared Equity Office Properties Trust its "Bear of the Day" -- a stock expected to underperform the markets over the next three to six months -- for Sept. 26.Equity Office is a Chicago-based real estate investment trust. "Although the company exceeded our second-quarter estimates by $0.01 per share, operations remain mediocre," Zacks said. "Rent roll-downs continue throughout the portfolio, and occupancies are still low in key markets. Earnings will continue to suffer dilution through dispositions, as the company cannot replace lost income fast enough." Zacks added, however, that it is beginning to see "improving fundamentals" in some of the REIT's key markets. Zacks can be found online at http://www.zacks.com.