All Star Analysts Portfolio highlights: Countrywide Financial, Dell, General Electric, and Wachovia Corporation.

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com just released its latest additions and deletions to its proprietary All Star Analyst portfolio. Members on this exclusive list include Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE:CFC), Dell (NASDAQ:DELL), General Electric (NYSE:GE) and Wachovia Corporation (NYSE:WB). 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 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. Here is a synopsis of why these stocks are on the All Star Analysts Portfolio:

Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE:CFC), which provides mortgage banking and diversified financial services, announced earlier this month that mortgage loan fundings rose +35% to $36 billion in March compared to February. The rise was helped, in part, by four more working days in March than February, but the result was still +12% higher than the year-ago month, which had the same number of working days. Countrywide Financial stated that mortgage banking efforts were driven by solid performance from the production sector in all major product categories. The company went on to say that a strong mortgage loan pipeline at the quarter's end suggests continued momentum in production activities heading into the second quarter. Several All Stars liked the activity that Countrywide Financial reported for March and continue to recommend the company.

Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) is the leading personal computer company and remains a favorite pick for a number of All Star analysts. Earlier this month, Dell reaffirmed its guidance that first quarter revenue should jump +16% to $13.4 billion compared to the previous year. Furthermore, earnings per share are expected to improve +32% to 37 cents. Dell also announced its plans to grow annual sales to $80 billion. The company said its growth and profitability are based on a disciplined approach to defining new product and service categories, accelerating growth in existing business, and extending the value it creates for customers in all of those areas.

General Electric (NYSE:GE) pleased the All Star Analysts and investors alike by starting the year on the right foot, reporting first quarter earnings of $4 billion on revenue of $39.8 million. Those results mark advances of +25% and +19% respectively from year-ago totals. Earnings per share reached 38 cents, edging past Wall Street expectations. General Electric stated that nine of its 11 businesses delivered at least double-digit earnings growth while organic revenue growth was +10%. Thanks to its encouraging first quarter results and momentum for the future, General Electric said it expects full-year earnings per share at the high end of its original guidance range, targeting $1.78 to $1.83. Furthermore, General Electric announced on Monday that its GE Commercial Finance unit agreed to acquire Bombardier Capital's Inventory Finance Division.

Wachovia Corporation (NYSE:WB): Despite challenging retail brokerage markets, Wachovia Corporation reported a solid first quarter performance last week. Excluding items, earnings per share reached $1.03, compared to 98 cents a year earlier. The consensus was expecting $1.01. Revenue grew +14%. The company stated that its four major businesses generated record earnings with good sales momentum and market share gains. Wachovia continues to set records when it comes to customer service and loyalty ratings, which should provide a solid foundation for the rest of year. In addition to customers, the All Star analysts are also fans of Wachovia with several of them continuing to recommend this financial services company.

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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