All Star Analysts Portfolio highlights: AMETEK, Essex Corporation, PPD, Inc. and Wells Fargo & Company.

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com just released its latest additions and deletions to its proprietary All Star Analyst portfolio. Members on this exclusive list include AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME), Essex Corporation (NASDAQ:KEYW), PPD, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPDI) and Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC). View the entire list of stocks on the All Star Analyst portfolio at http://at.zacks.com/?id=510.

This exclusive portfolio represents all stocks with a Strong Buy rating from at least four analysts with a 5-Star All Star ranking. These are the brokerage analysts whose stock recommendations proved to be the most profitable for investors. Since July 2002, this portfolio has generated an annualized return of 11.63%, exceeding the S&P 500. Here is a synopsis of why these stocks are in the All Star Analysts Portfolio:

AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME) is scheduled to report second quarter results on Thursday, and the company is expecting a solid performance. In fact, the manufacturer of electronic instruments and electric motors now expects earnings per share of 64 cents to 65 cents for the quarter. That's up from its previous guidance of between 57 cents and 59 cents. AMETEK expects sales of $450 million, marking a rise of about 28% from the previous year. The company said strong internal growth and contributions from acquisitions drove the strong top-line growth. The All Star Portfolio company also raised its earnings per share outlook for full year 2006.

Essex Corporation (NASDAQ:KEYW) provides advanced signal, image, information processing, information assurance and cyber-security solutions, primarily for U.S. Government intelligence and defense customers, along with select commercial customers. Essex will report its second quarter results in early August. In early May, the company announced a solid first quarter performance, which included earnings per share of nine cents on revenues of $54.3 million. Earnings matched the consensus and improved from seven cents a year earlier, while revenues advanced from $25.7 million in the first quarter 2005. Besides the quarterly results, Essex said it continues enhancing its ability to grow and expand the services and products both internally and with additional strategic acquisitions.

PPD, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPDI) reported second quarter earnings per share of 31 cents on net revenue of $309 million. The earnings result beat the consensus by approximately 6.9% while revenue improved 26% year-over-year from $245.1 million. Earnings per share also advanced from the previous year. The company said second quarter results demonstrate continued strength in the market along with PPD's ability to perform well across the continuum of global drug development markets and service segments. PPD remains a favorite among the All Star Analysts.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) said its ability to earn more of its customers' business enabled for outstanding financial results in the second quarter. Earnings per share of $1.23 came in a penny below the consensus, but the record performance improved by 10% from the previous year's $1.12. Furthermore, revenue advanced 12% to $8.8 billion. One of the highlights in the quarter was new records in cross-sell for both its Community and Wholesale Banking segments. Wells Fargo remains one of the All Stars' favorite names in the industry.

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

About Zacks All Star Analyst Survey

To learn which brokerage analysts are the best in their field and what stocks they're recommending today, see the Zacks All Star Analyst survey. This exclusive survey, created with Fortune Magazine, reveals the "Best-of-Breed" brokerage analysts. They are the select group of winners from the universe of brokerage analysts - the ones who consistently beat the street - the few you should be following now. Visit the Zacks All Star Survey to find the best analysts and their top stock recommendations at http://at.zacks.com/?id=512

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