Zacks $100K Challenge 2007 Top Player Interview features InterDigital Communications Corp. and Crystallex International Corp.

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com introduces its $100K Challenge 2007 top player interviews, which feature insights from the leaders of the Zacks Simulator game. This year the Simulator's $100K Challenge allows investors to prove their stock picking abilities by competing directly against other players for a possible $100,000 contract with Zacks.

Lester Majkowicz makes use of all the tools in his investment arsenal from fundamental and technical analysis to contrarian investing. While Lester may not gamble like a day trader (he is a buy and hold investor), he is not afraid of taking chances in the micro-cap arena. Some of his holdings have included InterDigital Communications Corp. (Nasdaq: IDCC) and Crystallex International Corp. (AMEX: KRY). Click here for the full story exclusively on Zacks.com: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2518

Highlights from the January 25 interview include:

How does he do it?

This stock picker certainly does his home work. In addition to studying the fundamentals and technicals, Lester will call the company directly to get answers to his questions.

As a general rule, the savvy investor is mostly concerned with the fundamentals. "I look for revenue and products that have hit the market or will hit it soon. Also capitalization is very important. Great ideas are only that, ideas, if the company does not have the resources to turn them into reality," stated Lester. "However if the company is funding itself only by the sale or issuing of stock and thus causing significant dilution I stay away no matter how good things appear.

This Simulator player's holdings have included InterDigital Communications Corp. (Nasdaq: IDCC) and Crystallex International Corp. (AMEX: KRY). Click here to check out this competitor's entire portfolio: http://at.zacks.com/?id=3314.

When does he sell?

This is where, this market enthusiast starts relying a little more on the charts but the does not forget to check the financial statements. He noted, "I will sell at my price target when it is hit. The target is determined by technical analysis if possible. At the initial purchase of the stock I set a stop loss of 15%. This stop is written in stone, I will not go any lower. As the stock moves upward I keep raising the stop. However, as the stock rises nearer to my target price I begin to tighten my stop a little. This is all very basic stuff. If the fundamentals change I bail totally and quickly."

Any advice for the novices out there?

Lester's mantra is "don't marry your stocks." He is big on research and diversification. The Simulator top player's concluding remarks were "do your research before you buy in, don't look for one or two stocks to be your home runs and accept your losses, cut them short and move on to the next opportunity."

Check out the complete interview and learn more about the Simulator at: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2518

The $100K Challenge is On! Do You Have What it Takes?

Sign up now for the Zacks $100K Challenge. It's free. It's fun. It's the place to show your investing prowess. The best stock picker will be rewarded with a $100,000 contract with Zacks. Learn more at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2520

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD in mathematics Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2521

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

(a) The S&P 500 Index ("S&P 500") is a well-known, unmanaged index of the prices of 500 large-company common stocks selected by Standard & Poor's. The S&P 500 includes the reinvestment of all dividends, no transaction costs, and represents the gross returns before management fees.

Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.