Xtremepicks.com Alerts for Wednesday include VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY), MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET), Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW), and AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN)

--- VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY) opened Wednesday at $3.68 per share on trading volume of 176,799 shares.

In a press release out on June 24, 2009 -- VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $10 million of the Company's common stock.

About VAALCO Energy

VAALCO Energy, Inc. is a Houston based independent energy company principally engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil. VAALCO's strategy is to increase reserves and production through the exploration and exploitation of oil and natural gas properties with high emphasis on international opportunities. The Company's properties and exploration acreage are located primarily in Gabon and Angola, West Africa.

--- MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) opened Wednesday at $29.66 per share on trading volume of 1,390,000 shares.

In a press release out on Jun 24, 2009 -- MetLife, providing dental plan administration for over 21 million people, announced additions to its dental continuing education program today. Three new quality resource guides have been added to the MetLife program, which is recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). The new courses focus on: 1) Assessing Orofacial Pain, 2) Assessing Risk for Chronic Periodontitis in Adults 3rd Edition, and 3) Recognition and Management of Patients with Xerostomia 2nd Edition. The courses are available online at www.metdental.com and can be completed for continuing education credits.

About MetLife

MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET), a leading provider of insurance, employee benefits and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance and retirement & savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.


--- Office Depot (NYSE:ODP) opened Wednesday at $3.94 per share on trading volume of 3,880,000 shares.

In a press release out on Jun 24, 2009 -- Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, is urging small businesses to take the simple and affordable steps necessary to get prepared for the 2009 hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast nine to 14 named storms this season, with four to seven developing into hurricanes.

About Office Depot

Every day, Office Depot is Taking Care of Business for millions of customers around the globe. For the local corner store as well as Fortune 500 companies, Office Depot provides products and services to its customers through 1,604 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs and a $4.6 billion e-commerce operation. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $14.5 billion, and employs about 42,000 associates around the world. The Company provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company, and currently sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 48 countries.

--- The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) opened Wednesday at $15.62 per share on trading volume of 3,570,000 shares.

In a press release out on Jun 24, 2009 -- Responding to needs expressed by vinyl compounders, extruders and fabricators of window profiles for enhanced impact performance, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) today announced the availability of a new, superior vinyl impact modifier - Paraloid(TM) KM-X100 Pro. Tests have shown that the product's exceptional impact efficiency should exceed all competitive offerings. This fully formulated all-acrylic material fulfills the major needs for reducing extruded vinyl processing costs: it allows lower use levels, gives a wider processing window for lower melt temperatures, and provides fast fusion for higher output rates and maintaining gloss targets. Dow states that window profiles produced with Paraloid(TM) KM-X100 Pro also transform vinyl window fabrication during cutting, routing and punching operations by reducing breakage and chip scrap.

About The Dow Chemical Company

Dow With sales of $58 billion in 2008 and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008 and 15,000 employees worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

--- AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN) opened Wednesday at $16.22 per share on trading volume of 675,933 shares.

In a press release out on June 24, 2009 -- AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), America's largest automotive retailer, announced today that it will release its financial results for the 2nd Quarter ended June 30, 2009 on Friday, July 31, 2009. Mike Jackson, chairman and chief executive officer, Mike Maroone, president and chief operating officer, and Mike Short, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will discuss these results and information regarding the Company's business and operating environment during a conference call and audio webcast that same morning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.


About AutoNation, Inc.

AutoNation, Inc., headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is America's largest automotive retailer. A component of the Standard and Poor's 500 Index, AutoNation owns and approximately 266 new vehicle franchises in 15 states. For additional information, please visit http://corp.AutoNation.com or www.AutoNation.com, where more than 70,000 vehicles are available for sale.

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