All Star Analysts Portfolio highlights: Baker Hughes, ENSCO Int'l, IDEX Corporation and NCI, Inc.

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com just released its latest additions and deletions to its proprietary All Star Analyst portfolio. Members on this exclusive list include Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI), ENSCO International Inc. (NYSE: ESV), IDEX Corporation (NYSE: IEX) and NCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCIT). 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:

Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI) remains one of the All Stars' favorite names in oil services. The company will report its fourth-results in mid February. For its third quarter, Baker Hughes earned $1.09 per share on revenue of $2.31 billion. EPS bettered the consensus and surged year over year, while revenue increased by 29%. Baker Hughes said it remains confident in its outlook for continued growth in 2007 and through the end of the decade.

ENSCO International Inc. (NYSE: ESV) announced revenues of $489.9 million for its third quarter, improving year over year from $275.1 million. Earnings per share almost tripled from the previous year and easily beat Wall Street expectations. The average day rate for ESV's operating jackup rig fleet jumped 57% from last year to $119,400 while utilization of its jackup fleet advanced to 97%. Also in the quarter, ENSCO Int'l announced that it repurchased 1,250,000 shares of its common stock. The contract drilling services will report its next quarterly results in late February. It remains a fixture on the All Star Analyst Portfolio.

IDEX Corporation (NYSE: IEX) is a Zacks #2 Rank company that remains a favorite with the All Stars. Analysts like that IDEX is a leading competitor in its narrow markets, and also are encouraged by management's business and operating initiatives, which are expected to drive solid results. Other positive factors, according to analysts, include its acquisitions and new product launches, its continued emphasis on innovation, and its faster-growing international markets. In its third quarter, IDEX reported earnings per share from continuing operations that topped the consensus on sales that improved 16%.

NCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCIT) announced late last month that it was awarded a task order to provide NORAD and U.S. Northern Command with command, control, communications and computer system information technology services. The task order has a potential total value of $31.3 million. It has a base year value of $8.8 million plus three additional option periods. NCI, which reached a new 52-week high on Dec 29, remains a Zacks #2 Rank company and a member of the All Star Analyst Portfolio. For its third quarter, NCI reported a positive earnings per share surprise of 20% on revenues that improved to $59.9 million.

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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