NOTE TO EDITORS: The Following Is an Investment Opinion Being Issued by AnalystChoice.com (AC).

NOTE TO EDITORS: The Following Is an Investment Opinion Being Issued by Ridgewater Equity (RWE).

In an interview with Barron’s, Zachary Shafran, Asset Manager of Waddell & Reed Science & Tech A (NASDAQ: UNSCX) and Ivy Science & Technology A (NASDAQ: WSTAX) feels that the world should brace for a greater crisis in clean water availability. He feels the impact may be much higher than the periodic shortages of crude. Shafran’s pick in this sector – Pentair, Inc.(NYSE: PNR). Shafran feels that the market is yet to assess the right value for PNR.

Pentair provides pumps and filters to both smaller pools / spas and big municipalities. Shafran feels that there is a huge replacement market for both pumps and filters as the existing infrastructure is worn-out. The pumps of Pentair have filtration capabilities that can handle any task, big or small, with ease. Shafran says that Pentair has recently worked out a system which can recycle used laundry water. This recycled water could be used to water lawns or trees.

Shafran expects Pentair to earn $1.40 a share in the current year. While he feels that Pentair is more US centric, greater growth lies elsewhere. He feels that Pentair has the potentiality to grow close to 20% every year. Currently, Pentair trades at $30.50. Pentair’s 52 week high lows are $34.27 - $ 17.23. Shafran reckons that Pentair may touch $ 40 a share in the next 12 – 18 months.

Then, Shafran talks about the upside in Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), where his fund has a large holding in ADS. ADS provides private label credit cards to retailers. Despite the market’s misgivings, Sharfran feels that ADS does much more than offer credit cards. ADS has the knack of applying the data and information gleaned from the credit card usage to design loyalty incentives. Shafran says that ADS has recently helped Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) by creating its Thank You network. ADS is doing the same for Visa Inc. (NYSE: V). In the current year, Shafran expects ADS to earn an EPS of $5 a share. This could increase to $6.5 a share by mid 2010. Shafran’s target for ADS: $80 a share pretty soon.

Regarding Telvent Git, S.A (NASDAQ: TLVT) Shafran’s price target is $50 a share. Currently Telvent trades at $30.75 a share. Telvent is into real-time corporate operating systems.

In Health care, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX) seems to catch Shafran’s eye. According to Shafran, Vertex’s Telaprevir may have a lot of potential. Currently, Vertex is conducting advanced clinical trials on Telaprevir to treat hepatitis C.

Shafran expects Telaprevir to hit the market in 18 months. If that happens, Vertex may earn $ 7 a share. So, Shafran’s upper price target on Vertex is $70 within a year. Currently, Vertex – which is reporting losses – trades at $ 38.54 a share.

Then, Shafran explains why he is bullish about Cree, Inc.(NASDAQ: CREE), a company where his fund has a significant stake. Cree produces LED based offerings. Shafran expects Cree to achieve a growth rate higher than 20% yearly for the next 5 years. He expects the stock to touch $60 a share in 12 months. Currently, Cree trades at $47.93 a share.

Finally, on Aspen Technology, Inc.(OTC: AZPN), Shafran is enthused by the change in its management. Aspen offers integrated software and services to chemical, petroleum and pharmaceutical industries. Aspen’s software offerings received good praise from its customers.

Shafran says that Aspen has an order book of over $1 billion and its market value is less than $1 billion. In the next two years, Shafran expects Aspen to earn $1 a share. His expectation: AZPN could climb to $20 a share. Currently, Aspen trades at $9.48 a share.

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Biotech investors interested in seeing more details about these companies and a full list of their related stories can do so by typing the stock ticker symbol into the Stock Quotes box on the right side of the page.Covidien (NYSE:COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a new action date under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act for the review of the New Drug Application (NDA) for Exalgo™ (hydromorphone HCl extended-release) Tablets (CII), (Exalgo) of February 22, 2010.Antigenics Inc. (NASDAQ: AGEN) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), has formally adopted a negative opinion on the marketing authorization application (MAA) for Oncophage (vitespen) as a treatment in earlier-stage, localized renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).Inovio Biomedical Corporation (NYSE Amex:INO), a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that a combination of its synthetic consensus H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, and H5N1 influenza vaccine candidates achieved protective antibody responses against several different influenza sub-types and strains in ferrets.Genta Incorporated (OTCBB: GETA.OB) announced preliminary results that show a high objective response rate in a pilot study of patients with advanced melanoma that incorporates the Company’s lead oncology product, Genasense® (oblimersen sodium) Injection, administered for the first time as a 1-hour high-dose intravenous (IV) infusion.POZEN Inc. (NASDAQ: POZN) announced today the start of enrollment for the phase 3 studies for PA32540. PA32540 is a fixed-dose combination of 325 mg of enteric coated aspirin and 40 mg of immediate release omeprazole, under investigation for use in the secondary prevention of heart attacks and strokes in patients at risk for associated gastric ulcers.Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of 6,800,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $3.30 per share.GLG Life Tech Corporation (TSX:GLG)(NASDA:GLGL), the vertically integrated leader in the agricultural and industrial development of high quality stevia extracts, announced today that it has commenced trading on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "GLGL".PharMerica Corporation (NYSE: PMC), a national provider of institutional pharmacy and hospital pharmacy management services, announced that it has appointed Geoffrey G. Meyers to the Company’s Board of Directors.Cyberonics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYBX) today announced that Dan Moore, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Greg Browne, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the 21st Annual Piper Jaffray Health Care Conference in New York on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 12:00 PM EST.Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for ABILIFY® (aripiprazole) for the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder in pediatric patients ages 6 to 17 years, including symptoms of aggression towards others, deliberate self-injuriousness, temper tantrums, and quickly changing moods.Lannett Company, Inc. (NYSE AMEX: LCI) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a reauthorization of the stock repurchase program. Under the program the company is authorized to repurchase up to $5 million of Lannett’s outstanding common stock from time to time in open market and privately negotiated transactions.Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq:VRTX) today announced that it will webcast its presentations at the Piper Jaffray 21st Annual Health Care Conference on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. EST and at the 2009 Deutsche Bank Biotech Boston Confab on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. EST.OPTIMIZERx Corporation (OTCBB:OPRX) has engaged Beringea LLC, an investment banking and private equity firm, to assist in financial planning and strategic positioning for the company's continued growth.Dendreon Corporation (Nasdaq: DNDN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided written acknowledgement that the Company's amended Biologics License Application (BLA) for PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T) is a complete response.Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: LGND) today announced that data from a preclinical study on its selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) LGD-4033 was featured in a poster presentation at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Gerontology Society of America in Atlanta. LGD-4033 exhibited desirable in vivo efficacy on skeletal muscle and bone measurements in animal models of male hypogonadism and postmenopausal osteoporosis.BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX) today announced the completion of its acquisition of HandyLab, Inc., an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company that develops and manufactures molecular diagnostic assays and automation platforms.Soligenix, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SNGX), formerly known as DOR BioPharma, Inc., a late-stage biotechnology company, announced today that it has formed a consortium to develop thermostable technology to advance RiVax(TM) and other rapidly acting vaccines.

Biotech investors interested in seeing more details about these companies and a full list of their related stories can do so by typing the stock ticker symbol into the Stock Quotes box on the right side of the page.Akorn, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRX) a specialty pharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.Allos Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALTH), a biopharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of innovative anti-cancer therapeutics announced management will present at two upcoming conferences: the Lazard Capital Markets 6th Annual Healthcare Conference and the Windhover Therapeutic Area Partnerships event, where the Company’s Pralatrexate for Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma project was named as one of Windhover’s Top 10 interesting oncology projects.ArQule, Inc. (Nasdaq:ARQL) announced it will present at the Lazard Capital Markets 6th Annual Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 5:10 p.m. eastern time.Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALXN) announced researchers are scheduled to present data relating to Soliris® (eculizumab) as a treatment for patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) during the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), to be held December 5 – 8, 2009 at the Ernst N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) announced its presentation at the Lazard Capital Markets 6th Annual Healthcare Conference will be webcast live, via the internet, on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 10:55a.m. EST.Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE:ELN) announced it will present at the Lazard Capital Markets 6th Annual Healthcare Conference, on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at; 9:55 a.m. Eastern Time and 2:55 p.m. GMT.Genoptix, Inc. (Nasdaq:GXDX), a specialized laboratory services provider, announced the Company's participation at the Lazard Capital ManaGement 6th Annual Healthcare Conference at The St. Regis Hotel in New York City on November 17-18, 2009.Impax Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:IPXL) announced the Company will present at the Credit Suisse 18th Annual Healthcare Conference on Friday, November 13th, at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Standard time.ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq:IMGN), a biopharmaceutical company that develops targeted anticancer therapeutics, announced several ImmunoGen poster presentations will be made at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics to be held in Boston, MA, on November 15-19, 2009.The positive mix lift expected as farmers choose to upgrade to next-generation technologies allows Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) to reconfirm its commitment to double its 2007 gross profit in 2012, Monsanto President and CEO Hugh Grant will tell investors.Santarus, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNTS), a specialty biopharmaceutical company, announced Gerald T. Proehl, president and chief executive officer, will make a presentation at the Lazard Capital Markets 6th Annual Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at 10:55 a.m. Eastern time (7:55 a.m. Pacific time) at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City.S3 Investment Company, Inc. (OTC:SIVC) announced the company's wholly owned Redwood Capital subsidiary has received payment valued at over $500,000 in the form of cash and stock from the recent closing of a client equity offering.Sigma-Aldrich® (Nasdaq:SIAL) announced it has entered into an exclusive worldwide distribution agreement with Stemgent, Inc. to offer Stemgent's portfolio of lentivirus-based delivery systems for the generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq:TEVA) announced the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware has issued a decision in its litigation over the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to market its generic version of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.'s Prevacid® (Lansoprazole) SoluTab.Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq:TEVA) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted final approval for the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to market its generic version of Tap Pharmaceutical's proton pump inhibitor Prevacid® (lansoprazole) Delayed-Release Capsules, 15 mg and 30 mg. Customers will begin receiving product on November 11, 2009.Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq:VRTX) announced holders of its 4.75% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 have agreed to exchange approximately $109.0 million in aggregate principal amount of those notes and accrued interest for approximately 4.8 million shares of the Company’s common stock, which is approximately 140,000 shares more than the number of shares into which the notes were convertible under their original terms.

Biotech investors interested in seeing more details about these companies and a full list of their related stories can do so by typing the stock ticker symbol into the Stock Quotes box on the right side of the page.

EpiCept Corporation (Nasdaq:EPCT) announces the release of new findings demonstrating the pharmacoeconomic benefits of Ceplene® (histamine dihydrochloride) for the remission maintenance of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients in first remission.

SuperGen, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUPG) and GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) have entered into a multi-year collaboration to discover and develop cancer therapeutics based on epigenetic targets.

Allergan, Inc. (NYSE:AGN) announced the United States District Court for the District of Delaware ruled in favor of Allergan, Inc. in its patent infringement suit against Exela PharmSci, Inc., Exela PharmSci Pvt., Ltd. ("Exela"), Apotex, Inc. and Apotex Corp. ("Apotex") (collectively, the "Defendants") for seeking to market purported generic versions of Allergan’s drugs ALPHAGAN® P (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution) 0.1% and 0.15%.

Inovio Biomedical Corporation (NYSE:INO), a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced its board of directors elected David J. Williams, former chairman and CEO of Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine business of Sanofi-Aventis Group, and Keith H. Wells, a senior member of the Biologics Consulting Group and former director of vaccine development for The Salk Institute, to the board.

SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCLN) announced it plans to report third quarter 2009 results on Monday, November 9. SciClone will host a conference call to give a business and product update at 8:30 am ET that day.

EpiCept Corporation (Nasdaq:EPCT) announces the release of new findings demonstrating the pharmacoeconomic benefits of Ceplene® (histamine dihydrochloride) for the remission maintenance of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients in first remission.

BIOLASE Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLTI), the world's leading dental laser company, announced veteran public company board member and dental executive Gregory D. Waller has been named to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Shire plc (NASDAQ:SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following a thorough administrative review of governing statutory and regulatory standards and public comments, has affirmed its prior decision to grant five-year New Chemical Entity (NCE) exclusivity to lisdexamfetamine dimesylate-currently marketed by Shire U.S. Inc. for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder under the name VYVANSE(R).

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPPI), a commercial-stage biotechnology company with a focus in oncology, announced an overview of the Company’s business strategy will be presented at the 2009 BIOCOM Investor Conference on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 9:30am Pacific Time.

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SLXP) announced the Company will report third quarter 2009 financial results following the close of the U.S. financial markets on Monday, November 9, 2009.

NanoViricides, Inc. (OTC:NNVC), reports the Company is well financed and its game changing anti-viral drug development programs are progressing successfully.

Speaking today in Barcelona at the Fifth Peptide Engineering Meeting, Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ:CGEN) project manager Dr. Yossef Kliger provided an overview of Compugen’s DAC Blockers Platform and reviewed disease model data for selected product candidates.

Antigenics (NASDAQ:AGEN) announced the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has presented an update on a Phase 2 clinical trial of Oncophage (vitespen) for recurrent high grade glioma (brain cancer) at the 2009 Joint Meeting of SNO (Society for Neuro-Oncology) and AANS/CNS Section on Tumors 2009 in New Orleans, LA. Data were presented in Sunrise Session #6: Immunotherapy: Current Status of Clinical Trials on Saturday, October 24.

SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCLN) announced it plans to report third quarter 2009 results on Monday, November 9.

Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOMX) announced Richard W. Pascoe, Somaxon’s president and chief executive officer, will present a company overview at the Oppenheimer 20th Annual Healthcare Conference at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on Wednesday, November 4th at 4:30 P.M. Eastern Time.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:RNN) announced it has completed its previously announced Registered Direct Offering of common stock and warrants.

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALTH), a biopharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of innovative anti-cancer therapeutics,  announced Company management will provide a corporate update and review of the third quarter 2009 results via webcast and conference call on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:IDRA) announced the issuance of patents covering its novel Toll-like Receptor (TLR) - targeted compounds. The Company's TLR-targeted compounds are based on synthetic DNA and RNA, which it refers to as immune modulatory oligonucleotides, or IMO®.

AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVII), a developer of RNA-based drugs, presented an update on preliminary safety data from its ongoing systemic Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of exon skipping AVI-4658 in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) at the 7th Annual Action Duchenne Conference in London, UK.

Dyadic International, Inc. (OTC:DYAI) announced financial results for the first and second quarters of 2009 as well as for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

AMRI (NASDAQ:AMRI) announced it will issue third quarter financial results before the opening of the market on Monday, November 9, 2009. Following the release of its results, the company will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast at 10 a.m. EST.

Cannabis Science Inc. (OTC:CBIS) an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company, is urging that US government recognize that phytocannabinoid pharmaceutical products can help reduce Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)-associated deaths from both the Avian and Swine Influenza infections, as President Obama declares a national emergency.

Fero Industries, Inc. (OTC:FROI) is pleased to provide certain disclosures relating to the ten pending patent applications of Pyro Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:NPSP) reported additional data from a Phase 3 study supporting the efficacy of GATTEX™ (teduglutide) in   patients with parenteral nutrition (PN)-dependent short bowel syndrome (SBS).

CEL-SCI Corporation (AMEX:CVM) announced it has received over $10 million over the past 60 days through the exercise of warrants by investors to purchase the Company's common stock.

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SLXP) announces the 2009 American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting will be the venue for 13 presentations describing the investigation of the Company’s bacterial-related disease, inflammatory bowel disease and bowel cleansing product lines.

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:LGND) announced it plans to report third quarter 2009 financial results on Thursday, November 5, 2009, following the close of market.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq:VRTX) reviewed recent business and clinical progress and reported consolidated financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

SuperGen, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUPG) reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Microfluidics International Corporation (OTC:MFLU) announced it has received a $1.0 million secured revolving line of credit from Webster Bank, N.A.

EastBridge Investment Group (OTC:BIG) announced its CEO, Keith Wong, has attended a land acquisition signing ceremony in Jiyuan, Henan for Alpha Green Energy Limited.

Inhibitex, Inc. (NASDAQ: INHX) announced a poster presentation describing preclinical data on INX-189, the lead compound from its HCV nucleotide polymerase inhibitor program, will be presented by Dr. Joseph M. Patti, Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President of R&D, at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in Boston, MA.

Today’s tickers: XLF, ETFC, CF, HGSI, EEM, BEBE, SMH, VRTX, HGSI, F & LDK

XLF - Financial Select Sector SPDR – A large bearish spread in the June 2010 contract suggests one investor feels the need for downside protection through expiration. Shares are slightly up this afternoon by about 0.25% to $14.09. The trader purchased 20,000 put options at the June 14 strike for an average premium of 1.91 apiece. He financed the long position by selling 20,000 puts at the June 11 strike for 74 cents each, and by selling another 20,000 puts at the lower June 10 strike for 51 cents premium. The net cost of the transaction amounts to 66 cents per contract. The investor responsible for the three-legged spread is possibly holding a long stock position in the XLF. The put options might then serve to protect the value of the position in the event that shares decline beneath the effective breakeven point at $13.34 by expiration. The fact that the trader is short two times as many puts indicates this investor expects a pullback but not a collapse beneath the lower strike price of $10.00.

ETFC - E*Trade Financial Corp. – The Wall Street Journal reported that ETFC withdrew its application for funding through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) because the company’s “recent capital-raising and debt-reduction efforts negates the need for the money.” E*Trade raised $150 million by selling stock in the third quarter out of some $765 million of sold stock this year. The seemingly bullish news that the company no longer plans to participate in the capital-purchase program did not do much for the current share price, which slipped 6% lower to $1.37. Our scanners picked up on interesting options activity this afternoon that may or may not have been inspired by today’s news. It appears 95,000 put options sold at the January 1.0 strike for about 5.5 pennies apiece. One may infer the transaction represents bullish sentiment on ETFC if the sale of the put options is fresh activity. If this is the case, the trader pockets the 5.5 cents premium, and expects shares to remain above $1.00 through expiration. However, the sale could also be the work of an investor closing out a long put position given the already high reading of open interest at the small number of available strike prices.

CF - CF Industries Holdings, Inc. – The manufacturer of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer…

Today's tickers: XLF, ETFC, CF, HGSI, EEM, BEBE, SMH, VRTX, HGSI, F & LDK[More...]

Colleen King takes a look back at news on the Street

Joseph Hargett takes a look back at news driving the market today

Joseph Hargett takes a look at activity in the options pits.

Ed Stenson takes a look at activity in the options pits.

Ed Stenson takes a look at activity in the options pits.