All Star Analysts Portfolio highlights: BJ Services, NCI, PPD and Transocean.

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com just released its latest additions and deletions to its proprietary All Star Analyst portfolio. Members on this exclusive list include BJ Services Company (NYSE: BJS), NCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCIT), PPD, Inc. (NASDAQ: PPDI) and Transocean Inc. (NYSE: RIG). 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 7.53%. Here is a synopsis of why these stocks are in the All Star Analysts Portfolio:

BJ Services Company (NYSE: BJS) announced that fiscal fourth quarter earnings per share surged year over year to 76 cents, while consolidated revenue of $1.22 billion jumped 36% from $892.3 million. EPS also bettered the consensus by 2.7%. The rebound in Canadian activity, as well as improvements in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, led to the solid quarterly results. For the fiscal year, the oilfield services company reported earnings per share of $2.52, compared to $1.38 in the previous year, with consolidated revenue rising 35% to $4.4 billion from $3.2 billion in fiscal 2005. For fiscal 2007, BJ Services expects earnings per share between $3.15 and $3.25 with revenue growth expectations in excess of 20%.

NCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCIT) is a Zacks #2 Rank company, as analysts' earnings estimates for this year and next are up 6.6% and 4.1% respectively from two months ago. The provider of information technology services and solutions reported revenues of $59.9 million for the third quarter, which marked a year-over-year advance from $50.1 million. Earnings per share of 18 cents came in short from a year earlier, but still bettered the consensus by 20%. Contract awards for the quarter reached $114 million. For the full year, NCI expects earnings per share between 63 cents and 66 cents on revenue of $210 million to $215 million.

PPD, Inc. (NASDAQ: PPDI) announced earlier this week that net revenue for 2006 will range from $1.145 billion to $1.15 billion, which is slightly higher than its earlier guidance. This excludes reimbursed out-of-pockets. For 2007, the drug development company expects net revenue between $1.34 billion and $1.39 billion, marking an increase over the revised 2006 forecast of about 19%. Meanwhile, earnings per share for 2006 are expected at $1.30 to $1.31, while EPS for 2007 are forecasted between $1.46 and $1.54.

Transocean Inc. (NYSE: RIG) announced third-quarter earnings per share of 83 cents, excluding items, compared to 50 cents a year earlier. The result also beat analysts' consensus expectations by 13.7%. Revenues reached $1.03 billion, versus $762.6 million in the third quarter 2005. Revenue grew from the second quarter 2006 as well thanks to higher average dayrates and improved utilization on a number of rigs. Transocean said that its record contract backlog should support prospects for further quarterly financial improvement.

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

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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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