Schaeffer's S&P 500 Index Hot Stocks Features Kohl's, Affiliated Computer Services, Monster Worldwide, Albertson's, and Bausch & Lomb.

CINCINNATI -- Among the stocks featured in the December 23 edition of Schaeffer's S&P 500 Index Hot Stocks are Kohl's (NYSE:KSS), Affiliated Computer Services (NYSE:ACS), Monster Worldwide (NASDAQ:MNST), Albertson's (NYSE:ABS), and Bausch & Lomb (NYSE:BOL). 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=PRSHS12M&PAGE=1 .

Schaeffer's S&P 500 Index Hot Stocks for Friday, December 23, 2005:

'Twas the day before the Christmas weekend and all through the Street, volume was light as traders retreat.

The SPX is snuggled up 0.6 percent higher; I'd have to say the index isn't necessarily on fire.

Gainers outpace losers, 56 percent to 4; I wonder how many traders have headed to the store.

Sorry for that transgression into holiday-style poetry, let's get down to brass taxes here, with a look at what is happening in the SPX.

People have been decking their halls with the bounty available from Kohl's (NYSE:KSS), and it seems that one brokerage has taken note. Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) named the retailer its "top pick" for 2006. The brokerage picked KSS thanks to margin improvement, merchandising initiatives, and ample growth opportunities. This news was a welcome present for the company, as it has taken a sleigh ride up the hot-stocks list, gaining more than four percent.

He's making a list, checking it twice, and I think we found out that the consortium of Texas Pacific Group, Bain Capital, and the Blackstone Group has been nice. The New York Times reported that the consortium is about to find Affiliated Computer Services (NYSE:ACS) tucked nicely in its stocking. Of course, the present comes with a price tag of roughly $8 billion, or $62 per share. The information technology company has added more than four percent today thanks to this news.

It appears that mean ol' Mr. Grinch isn't the only monster headed for a change of heart this Christmas weekend. Monster Worldwide (NASDAQ:MNST) has leapt back above its 10-day and 20-day moving averages on the heels of a reiteration at the hands of JMP Securities. The brokerage restated the fact that it feels MNST is worthy of a "strong buy" ranking. And now MNST can join the Whos down in Whoville for a feast of roast beast.

We've dealt with the green, now in the true spirit of Christmas, let's move on to the red. The second-rated grocer in the United States, Albertson's (NYSE:ABS), announced yesterday that it had terminated talks with CVS Corp. (CVS) to sell the company. This news went over about as well as a lump of coal in J.P. Morgan's stocking, as the brokerage downgraded the company to "underweight" from "neutral." ABS has dropped more than 11 percent after CSFB noted that its "fundamental outlook is poor." The brokerage kept the Scrooge-ish holiday spirit going when it stated that ABS "has a long road ahead of it as a going concern. We believe the board may look to replace management." In a statement, ABS noted that it is in talks with "several parties" that are interested in acquiring its assets. ABS put itself up for sale in September, and analysts have put a $10 billion price tag on the entire chain.

Bausch & Lomb (NYSE:BOL) announced that it will restate some financial results after concluding its investigation into its Brazilian subsidiary, BL Industria Otica Ltda. BOL announced that it expects to post, on a per-share basis, restated fiscal 2001 earnings of $1.49 per share vs. $1.52 posted earlier; 2001 earnings of 31 cents vs. 39 cents; 2002 earnings of $1.15 vs. $1.34; 2003 earnings of $2.15 vs. $2.34; 2004 earnings of $2.92 vs. $2.93; and a partridge in a pear tree. This news hasn't gone over well with the investing community, as BOL has dropped more than eight percent today.

Ladies and gentlemen, that's the Ho-Ho-Ho-hot stocks for today and I am out of here. But not before wishing all of you and your families a happy holiday season. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Click the following link to see a Chart of the SPX 500 Index's Top-20 Percentage Gainers: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=14856 .

Click the following link to see a Chart of the SPX 500 Index's Top-20 Percentage Losers: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=14856 .

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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 .