Schaeffer's S&P 500 Index Hot Stocks Features Maytag, Whirlpool, Ecolab, Ashland, and Xerox.

CINCINNATI -- Among the stocks featured in the July 25 edition of Schaeffer's S&P 500 Index Hot Stocks are Maytag (NYSE:MYG), Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR), Ecolab (NYSE:ECL), Ashland (NYSE:ASH), and Xerox (NYSE:XRX). Schaeffer's S&P 500 Index Hot Stocks is just one of the many free market commentaries written every day 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, July 25, 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 - 1,233.14) 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 little more than 90 minutes left, the SPX is down very slightly on the day after tagging a new four-year high. At last check, roughly 48 percent of the index's components were in positive territory.

Maytag (NYSE:MYG) and Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) are topping our list of strong performing SPX stocks this afternoon. Over the weekend, MYG announced that a new offer from WHR could lead to takeover discussions between the competitors. WHR raised its bid for MYG on Friday, upping the offer to $18 per share from $17. This offer is 5.9 percent better than its previous offer and placed an 11.1-percent premium on MYG's Friday closing price. Earlier, MYG's board recommended that the appliance maker accept a $14-per-share offer from Triton Acquisition, a group led by Ripplewood Holdings. MYG noted that WHR's offer is superior but is uncertain to the timing of completion, the form of consideration, and the valuation of any stock consideration. Triton understandably disagrees with MYG's assessment and noted that any discussions between the two rivals would give it the right to terminate the merger agreement. Last night, WHR stated that it is analyzing MYG's response and would make no additional comment.

Meanwhile, Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) posted second-quarter earnings of $88.6 million, or 33 cents per share, an 11-percent jump from $78.3 million, or 30 cents per share. Revenue also soared 11 percent to $1.2 billion. The Street has forecast a gain of 33 cents per share on sales of $1.1 billion. What's more, ECL lifted its full-year 2005 earnings forecast to $1.32-$1.35 per share compared to its prior range of $1.30-$1.34 per share.

Also in the earnings niche, Ashland (NYSE:ASH) posted third-quarter earnings of $1.8 billion, including a $1.5 billion net gain on the sale of the company's 38-percent stake in Marathon Ashland Petroleum and 60 Valvoline oil change centers. Excluding items, the firm logged a profit of $231 million, or $3.09 per share. Revenue rose to $2.8 billion from $2.4 billion. The Street had predicted a gain of $2.13 a share and revenue of $2.7 billion for the company.

Motorola has jumped more than three percent this afternoon following an article in this weekend's Barron's suggesting that the stock continues to trade at attractive multiples despite a recent run-up.

In other news, Jefferies & Co. lifted its price targets on both Halliburton and Schlumberger after unexpectedly strong quarterly results issued late last week. It also didn't hurt that Bear Stearns reiterated its "outperform" rating on HAL, while UBS reiterated its "buy" rating on SLB.

Xerox (NYSE:XRX) has clambered to today's list of losers, thanks to its second-quarter earnings report. The firm earned 40 cents per share for the quarter as revenue marked a two-percent increase to $3.92 billion. Excluding a tax settlement and restructuring charges, XRX earned 20 cents per share, three-cents shy of the consensus estimate. The firm also forecast third-quarter earnings between 16 and 18 cents per share; the Street expects earnings of 22 cents per share.

Elsewhere, semiconductors are taking it on the chin this afternoon ahead of Texas Instruments' earnings report, which is due out after the close. Advanced Micro Devices has retreated roughly three percent on no news while Intel has given up nearly one percent.

Click the following link to see a Chart of the SPX 500 Index's Top-20 Percentage Gainers: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=13704 .

Click the following link to see a Chart of the SPX 500 Index's Top-20 Percentage Losers: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=13704 .

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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 .