Community & Management, Behind the Makings of Strong Brands - Research Report on H&R Block, Ulta Beauty, SCI, VCA Antech and Weight Watchers

NEW YORK, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, Investors Alliance announced new research reports highlighting H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB), Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA), Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), VCA Antech Inc. (NASDAQ: WOOF) and Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE: WTW). Today's readers may access these reports free of charge - including full price targets, industry analysis and analyst ratings - via the links below.

H&R Block, Inc. Research Report

H&R Block teams up with DoSomething.org teamed up to kick off "the Craziest Thing I Did To Save Money" - a teen-focused personal finance campaign last Feb. 28. The campaign encourages young people to share stories about the quirky and off-beat things they have done to save up, while receiving real-life advice about managing finances without going to such extremes. Teens can participate through a Facebook experience, text messaging game, humorous videos and opportunities to win than $30,000 in scholarships. "Research shows teens really do want to learn money management skills while they're young - they know it will help them avoid costly mistakes after graduation," said Susan Ehrlich, president of financial services for H&R Block, which provides financial education for teens through its H&R Block Dollars & Sense philanthropic program. "This campaign is a fun way to address the issue of personal finance and help teens make smart choices about money." H&R Block is one of the world's largest tax services providers, utilizing more than 100,000 highly trained tax professionals and having prepared more than 550 million tax returns worldwide since 1955. The Full Research Report on H&R Block, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.investors-alliance.com/r/full_research_report/aefe_HRB]

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Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. Research Report

Ulta Beauty has delivered exceptional sales growth and operating margin improvement via a successful execution of the company's multi-year growth strategy. The company's fiscal 2012 Q4 total sales increased 305 to $757 million, along with an 8% increase in comparable store sales. "With a strong management team, a deep bench of talent throughout the Company and the support of our Board, we will continue to build on the positive momentum of our business with a strong focus on executing our strategy," said Dennis K. Eck, Interim CEO. Ulta Beauty is the largest beauty retailer that provides one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon products and salon services in the United States. Ulta Beauty provides affordable indulgence to its customers by combining the product breadth, value and convenience of a beauty superstore with the distinctive environment and experience of a specialty retailer. The Full Research Report on Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.investors-alliance.com/r/full_research_report/60bf_ULTA]

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Service Corporation International Research Report

With funeral services coming back from the dead, Service Corporation, the largest provider of deathcare products and services in North America reported a lively fiscal 2012 Q4. "We are very pleased with the solid operating performance of our business during the fourth quarter which capped-off an impressive 23% improvement in full-year EPS from continuing operations excluding special items. Strong cemetery sales production and an increase in funeral services performed drove earnings above the high-end of our expectations,' said Tom Ryan, President and CEO for Service Corporation International. "This operating momentum, when combined with an expanding footprint and growing preneed backlog, creates an exciting opportunity to continue to grow the company into the future and to enhance shareholder value. Our successes could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of our 21,000 associates, and I thank them for their continued focus on delivering extraordinary service to our client families," he added. Diluted earnings per share increased to 15.8% while funeral gross profits reached $4.6 million, an increase of 5.3%, along with a 31.6% increase or $13.6 million for cemetery gross profits. The Full Research Report on Service Corporation International - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.investors-alliance.com/r/full_research_report/970e_SCI]

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VCA Antech Inc. Research Report

Leading animal healthcare company, VCA Antech, reported increases in both revenue and gross profits at $418.2 million and $81.8 million respectively. Bob Antin, Chairman and CEO, stated, "We are pleased that we are experiencing improving revenue growth in both our core Animal Hospital and Laboratory segments. We are also encouraged that we were able to increase our same-store gross profit margins in each of those segments. We are seeing steady improvement and growth in the veterinary market which bolsters our optimism for our overall growth prospects. "Animal Hospital revenue in 2012 Q4 increased to $330.1 million, a 15.6% driven by acquisitions made in the past 12 months and same-store revenue growth of 1.6%. Laboratory internal revenue also increased in that same quarter by 3% or $75.1 million, while revenue from all other segments increased to $4.9 million. The Full Research Report on VCA Antech Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.investors-alliance.com/r/full_research_report/1313_WOOF]

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Weight Watchers International, Inc. Research Report

Weight Watchers, the world's leading provider of weight management services, teamed up with the city of Newark for the Let's Move! Newark campaign to combat obesity. The announcement, made at Newark City Hall by Mayor Cory A. Booker along with David Kirchhoff, Chief Executive Officer, Weight Watchers International, Inc., underscores Newark's commitment to offering innovative opportunities for City employees to improve their health and well-being. The effort is an example of Weight Watchers' resolve to form unique relationships with like-minded cities that want to promote healthy lifestyles and work to tackle obesity with community-based solutions. Mayor Booker and Kirchhoff were joined by the Newark Municipal Council, Newark Food Policy Director and Co-Chair of Let's Move! Newark Elizabeth Reynoso, the Let's Move! Newark Council, and Weight Watchers Leader and Newark resident Ruby Anderson. This offering allows more than three thousand employees in Newark city agencies the opportunity to attend Weight Watchers meetings at work and in their communities with Monthly Pass at a discounted rate for up to one year. The Full Research Report on Weight Watchers International, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.investors-alliance.com/r/full_research_report/8910_WTW]

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