Bill Martin and Matt Ragas Highlight: Western Gas Resources, Burlington Resources, Dominion Resources, Evergreen Resources, Pride Int'l, GlobalSantaFe, Rowan Cos., Ensco.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2003

Bill Martin and Matt Ragas Also Highlight: TMP Worldwide,

Comcast, Cox Comm, and Cablevision

Explore the vast number of profitable stocks using Bill Martin and Matt Ragas' unique stock recommendations and commentaries. It's quick and easy and most importantly profitable. Learn about Western Gas Resources (NYSE:WGR), Burlington Resources (NYSE:BR), Dominion Resources (NYSE:D), Evergreen Resources (NYSE:EVG), Pride International (NYSE:PDE), GlobalSantaFe (NYSE:GSF), Rowan Companies (NYSE:RDC), Ensco (NYSE:ESV), TMP Worldwide (NASDAQ:TMPW), Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSK), Cox Communications (NYSE:COX), and Cablevision (NYSE:CVC). Click here for the full story exclusively on Zacks.com: http://featuredexpert2bw.zacks.com/

Here are the highlights from the Featured Expert column:

Bill Martin and Matt Ragas wanted to follow-up with some post-Howard Weil Energy Conference thoughts on investing in the drilling sector, with a particular emphasis on how they relate to their thesis that natural gas prices will remain at higher than expected price levels for the foreseeable future. There are several ways to play the higher gas price thesis, including via exploration & production (E&P) companies or via a variety of services, equipment, construction, and drilling companies.

To date, Bill and Matt have invested specifically in E&P company, Western Gas Resources (NYSE:WGR), due to its strong focus on low cost natural gas production in the fast growing Rocky Mountain region. Other potential E&P plays that are worth researching include Burlington Resources (NYSE:BR), Dominion Resources (NYSE:D) and Rocky-Mountain focused Evergreen Resources (NYSE:EVG).

The other way Bill and Matt are looking to play the higher gas price trend is via the drilling sector. In particular, they're eyeing natural gas leveraged offshore-centric drillers like Pride International (NYSE:PDE), GlobalSantaFe (NYSE:GSF), Rowan Companies (NYSE:RDC), and Ensco (NYSE:ESV). The offshore drillers are usually the last to benefit from any E&P uptick because offshore drilling is inherently more expensive and time intensive. However, when offshore drilling turns, it can turn quickly and be highly profitable for the drilling companies.

Shares of TMP Worldwide (NASDAQ:TMPW) had another good day Wednesday on continued positive buzz about the company's recently completed spin-out of its slower growth Hudson Highland staffing and executive search businesses. Bill and Matt continue to believe that the TMPW pure play (consisting largely of Monster.com) represents an attractive medium to long term investment opportunity. They would be buyers of TMPW on any weakness.

Bill and Matt had a chance to catch up with Greg MacDonald, a veteran North American cable and telecom analyst at National Bank Financial in Toronto. They asked MacDonald for his quick thoughts on Paul Allen's heavily indebted Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR). It was clear that he was skeptical that CHTR common shareholders would retain any value in a restructuring and noted that he thinks this will be "the bondholder's company."

Bill and Matt continue to keep an eye on opportunities in the cable sector, and while they believe that Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSK) and Cox Communications (NYSE:COX) are the class of the group, neither of these two leaders looks attractive at current prices. Their only exposure to the cable sector currently is via New York area cable operator and media/programming company Cablevision (NYSE:CVC).

Find profit in the marketplace by getting much more of Bill Martin and Matt Ragas' information on drillers, plus additional information on all of the stocks in their portfolios by clicking: http://featuredexpert3bw.zacks.com/

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