Schaeffer's S&P 500 Index Hot Stocks Features Apple Computer, Intel, Maytag, Sears Holdings, and BMC Software.

CINCINNATI -- Among the stocks featured in the May 23 edition of Schaeffer's S&P 500 Index Hot Stocks are Apple Computer (NASDAQ:AAPL), Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Maytag (NYSE:MYG), Sears Holdings (NASDAQ:SHLD), and BMC Software (NYSE:BMC). Schaeffer's S&P 500 Index Hot Stocks is just one of the many free market commentaries written everyday at www.SchaeffersResearch.com - the home of Bernie Schaeffer and Schaeffer's Investment Research. For additional information about this report or to have it delivered to you free via email every day click on the following link. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PRSHS1M&PAGE=1

Schaeffer's S&P 500 Index Hot Stocks for Monday, May 23, 2005:

A daily feature available on SchaeffersResearch.com is the "SPX Hot Stocks" column. Each afternoon, we will provide a list of the day's top-20 performing stocks in the S&P 500 Index (SPX - 1,195.75) as well as the bottom-20 names. Featured along with this table will be news that is moving some of the securities.

NOTE: Stocks trading under $5 per share have been eliminated from this listing of the top-20 and bottom-20 performing stocks.

With a little more than a half hour before the closing bell will sound, major markets are sitting just below their intraday peaks. With earnings season on the wane and economic reports few and far between this week, investors are risking more dollars in the market on the heels of last week's positive turn. Heading into the close, about three-fourths of the 500 SPX components are sitting in positive territory.

Apple Computer (NASDAQ:AAPL) has caught the attention of market players today after a Wall Street Journal article quoted two knowledgeable industry insiders as saying the iPod parent is in talks with Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) . After historically using IBM (IBM) chips in its Macintosh line, Steve Jobs' company is now reportedly meeting with INTC to discuss a switch in technology. Neither AAPL nor INTC officials would confirm or deny the Journal's reports. AAPL shares have spiked up more than five percent today and are trading at their highest level since mid-April.

Maytag (NYSE:MYG) shares are in positive territory again today as the appliance manufacturer readies itself for a move into the private sector. MYG did say that if its merger with private equity concern Ripplewood Holdings LLC were to dissolve, MYG could owe a hefty termination fee of $40 million. Earlier this morning, Smith Barney gathered its rosebuds while it could, pushing the still-publicly traded stock higher to a "hold" from a "sell."

Sears Holdings (NASDAQ:SHLD) , the new team that combines venerable shopping institutions Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Kmart, has rallied nearly five percent today to tag a new annual peak of 150.15. While there was no news on the security today, Zacks indicates that SHLD is readying itself for a Wednesday appearance in the earnings confessional.

Industrial manufacturing concern Eaton (ETN) has spiked up more than three percent today, taking out its 10-week moving average for the first time since mid-March. Before the opening bell this morning, J.P. Morgan upgraded its rating on the security to "neutral" from "underweight."

The brokerage firm wasn't as generous, however, with Teco Energy (TE) . Early this Monday, J.P. Morgan lowered its rating to a "neutral" from an "overweight." In other news, TE officials announced plans to raise as much as $200 million through a private note sale.

In an early-morning press release, BMC Software (NYSE:BMC) reiterated its fourth-quarter earnings results. The company expects a range between a one-cent loss and earnings of three cents per share. Excluding items, however, BMC expects to bank between eight and 12 cents per share, surrounding Wall Street's consensus estimate of 10 cents. On a revenue basis, BMC hopes to collect $388 million to $400 million, compared to analysts' expectations of $393.2 million.

Discount retailers Family Dollar (FDO) and Big Lots (BLI) are each trading almost two percent lower today, without any driving news for this underperformance. As such, today's decline could be the result of profit-taking activity, as both stocks posted impressive gains during last week's market rally.

Click the following link to see a Chart of the SPX 500 Index's Top-20 Percentage Gainers: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=13252 .

Click the following link to see a Chart of the SPX 500 Index's Top-20 Percentage Losers: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=13252 .

Take advantage of the timely Schaeffer commentaries by signing up for their free e-newsletters -- Opening View, Market Recap and Monday Morning Outlook. Click here to have the Schaeffer's commentaries delivered to you free via email every day. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PRSHS1M&PAGE=1 .

About Schaeffer's Investment Research (www.SchaeffersResearch.com)

Schaeffer's Investment Research, founded by Bernie Schaeffer in 1981, is a financial information and trading resources company. It publishes Bernie Schaeffer's Option Advisor, the nation's leading options subscription newsletter. The firm's contrarian approach focuses on stocks with technical and fundamental trends that run counter to investor expectations. The firm's website, http://www.SchaeffersResearch.com , is recognized as one of the leading information sources for stock and options traders and was cited as the top options website by both Forbes and Barron's. Click here for more details about Schaeffer's trading methodology: http://www.SchaeffersResearch.com/method .