All Star Analysts Portfolio Highlights: AnnTaylor Stores, Capital One Financial, Jabil Circuit and Williams-Sonoma.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2004

Zacks.com just released its latest additions and deletions to the coveted All Star Analyst portfolio. This exclusive portfolio represents all stocks with a Strong Buy rating from at least five analysts with a 5 Star All Star ranking. These are the brokerage analysts whose stock recommendations proved to be the most profitable for investors. In 2003 this portfolio gained +46.6% nearly doubling the rise of the S&P 500. The members on the exclusive list are: AnnTaylor Stores (NYSE:ANN), Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:COF), Jabil Circuit, Inc. (NYSE:JBL) and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM). View the entire list of stocks on the All Star Analyst portfolio at http://at.zacks.com/?id=510

Here is a synopsis of why these stocks are on the All Star Analysts Portfolio:

AnnTaylor Stores (NYSE:ANN) sells upscale women's fashions through a network of over 625 stores, located in 42 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The firm also operates an online shopping site. Earlier this month ANN reported that total net sales for the four week period ended January 31, 2004 increased +13.7% to $93.1 million from total net sales of $81.9 million for the four week period ended February 1, 2003. Thanks to that strong sales performance, AnnTaylor expect to report record earnings performance for the fourth quarter, and are once again raising earnings per share guidance to the range of 63 cents to 65 cents, up from a range of 54 cents to 56 cents. The improvement in earnings is based on better gross margin performance on January sales, and the favorable gross margin effect of its year end physical inventory. Full year earnings per share on a diluted basis is expected to be in the range of $2.11 to $2.13, which represents the company's second straight year of record earnings performance. With a strong sales performance, the All Stars are adding ANN to their shopping list.

Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:COF) is the holding company for Capital One Bank and offers a variety of credit card and financial services to customers. In January, Capital One announced an impressive +23% earnings per share growth for 2003. Earnings were $1.1 billion, or $4.85 per share (fully diluted), in 2003 compared with $0.9 billion, or $3.93 per share, in 2002. Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2003 were $265.7 million, or $1.11 per share (fully diluted), compared with earnings of $239.7 million, or $1.05 per share, for the comparable quarter of the prior year and $275.5 million, or $1.17 per share, in the previous quarter. Management also expects revenue margins and its charge-off rate to be somewhat lower in 2004 than in 2003, which is continued good news. Several All Star analysts believe that Capital One is well positioned for continued success in 2004 and are recommending it to their clients.

Jabil Circuit, Inc. (NYSE:JBL) is a worldwide independent provider of electronic manufacturing services. In its fiscal first quarter report from mid-December, Jabil Circuit said that its efforts over the past few years to position itself in new and growing markets in desirable manufacturing locations is now paying dividends. For that quarter, the company posted core earnings per share of 25 cents, which was +67% better than the year-ago performance and almost +9% better than the consensus. In addition, revenue advanced +41% to $1.51 billion from $1.07 billion last year. Earnings estimates for the year ending August 2004 are up by 3 cents, or about +3%, from two months ago. Furthermore, expectations for the following year, ending August 2005, have advanced by +3% in that timeframe as well. Jabil Circuit started fiscal 2004 on the right foot and the company said it continues to gain confidence in the full fiscal year outlook. With an improving environment backing up its strong numbers, several All Stars are looking at Jabil Circuit to manufacture higher returns.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) is a specialty retailer of products for the home. In January the company announced that net revenues for the eight-week holiday period ended December 28, 2003 increased +16.6% to $723.2 million versus the eight-week holiday period ended December 29, 2002, and reiterated its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2003 diluted earnings per share guidance in the range of 80 cents to 85 cents and $1.26 to $1.31, respectively. The company also reported that they are very encouraged by the opportunities that lie ahead for both their core and emerging brands. Williams-Sonoma is expecting a high-single digit increase in retail leased square footage. In their direct-to-customer channel, they are expecting strong growth in all emerging brands, including PBTeen, West Elm, and Hold Everything, and will be introducing their newest catalog, Williams-Sonoma Home in the late fall. Additionally, WSM will be continuing to invest in increased catalog circulation, electronic direct marketing, and Internet partnerships in all of their brands. This has impressed several top analysts and is a stock to watch in 2004.

Discover all the current All Star Analyst rankings and top analyst recommendations at http://at.zacks.com/?id=511

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