Zacks Buy List Highlights: Advent Software, Administaff, Inc., Charming Shoppes, National Semiconductor Corp.CHICAGO -- Zacks.com releases another list of stocks that are currently members of the coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List. The #1 Rank stocks highlighted today are Advent Software Advent Software (NASDAQ: ADVS) makes software designed to automate portfolio accounting for investment management firms, ranging from family offices and investment advisors to large institutional investors and hedge funds. , Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ADVS ADVS Automatisiertes Datenverarbeitungssystem ADVS Assistant Director Veterinary Service ) and Administaff, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :ASF See Windows Media formats. 1. (language) ASF - Algebraic Specification Language. 2. (body) ASF - Analytical Solutions Forum. ). Further, Zacks announced #2 Rankings (Buy) on two other widely held stocks: Charming Shoppes Charming Shoppes (NASDAQ: CHRS) is a specialty and plus size clothing retail holding company based in Bensalem, PA. Its subsidiaries include Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, and Catherines. Clothes are sold from over 2000 retail stores in the U.S. , Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRS CHRS Canadian Heritage Rivers System CHRS Centre d'Hébergement et de Réadaptation Sociale CHRS Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing CHRS Criminal History Record Search CHRS Charterers (shipping) ) and National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM (Network and System Management) Running and controlling the networks and computer systems in an enterprise. See network management. ). To see the full Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List, or the rank for any other stock, visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=88 Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of +33% since inception in 1988. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8% while the S&P 500 tumbled 37.6%. Here is a synopsis of why ADVS and ASF have a Zacks Rank of 1. Note that a #1 Strong Buy rating is applied to only 5% of all the stocks Zacks ranks: Advent Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADVS) announced third-quarter earnings of 19 cents per share Cents per share The amount of a mutual fund's dividend or capital gains distributions that a shareholder will receive for each share owned. in mid-October, soaring past the consensus estimate by nearly 138% and reversing last year's loss. The company commented that, among other positives, it saw continued revenue growth and its third consecutive quarter of positive earnings per share. Earnings estimates for the year ending December 2005 are above one month ago levels by 10 cents, or about 32%. Administaff, Inc. (NYSE:ASF) recently reported third-quarter earnings of 26 cents per share, beating the consensus estimate by about 13% and improving on last year's 14 cents. The company said its unit growth rate has increased ahead of schedule due to improved sales efficiency, strong client retention and some contribution from new hires within the existing client base. Revenues for the third quarter increased 20.9% year-over-year. Earnings estimates for the year ending December 2005 moved up seven cents, or almost 8%, from one month ago. Here is a synopsis of why CHRS and NSM have a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). Note that a #2 Buy rating is applied to 15% of all the stocks ranked by Zacks: Charming Shoppes, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRS) recently concluded its fiscal third quarter, which topped the consensus estimate by about 14% and outperformed the year ago quarter. The company stated that its year-over-year improvement was led by strong sales results at its Lane Bryant and Catherines Plus Sizes brands. CHRS updated its earnings projection for the year ending January 2006 to a range of 74 cents to 75 cents per share. Analysts followed suit by brining estimates to 75 cents, almost 3% above one week ago levels. National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM) will report fiscal second-quarter results in early December. In early September, NSM announced fiscal first-quarter GAAP GAAP See: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles GAAP See generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). earnings of 24 cents per share, which was ahead of the consensus estimate by about 9%. The company stated that it is seeing strong demand for analog products, particularly from its wireless and flat panel display A thin display screen for computer and TV usage. The first flat panels appeared on laptop computers in the mid-1980s, and the LCD technology became the standard. Stand-alone LCD screens became available for desktop computers in the mid-1990s and exceeded sales of CRTs for the first time customers. Earnings estimate for the year ending May 2006 increased 14 cents, or approximately 14%, over the past 90 trading days. Truly taking advantage of the Zacks Rank requires the understanding of how it works. The free special report, "Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions," provides an insightful background about this wealth-building tool. Download your free copy of the report now to prosper in the years to come by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=93. About the Zacks Rank For over 16 years, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Since inception in 1988, #1 Rank stocks have generated an average annual return of +33%. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained 43.8%, while the S&P 500 tumbled 37.6%. Also note that the Zacks Rank system has just as many Strong Sell recommendations (Rank #5) as Strong Buy recommendations (Rank #1). Since 1988, Zacks Rank #5 stocks have underperformed the S&P 500 by 155.5% annually (+4.6% vs. +11.8%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter offers continuous coverage of Zacks #1 Rank stocks and highlights those stocks poised to outperform the market. Subscribe to this free newsletter today by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=90. The Zacks Rank, and all of its recommendations, is created by Zacks & Co., member NASD NASD See: National Association of Securities Dealers NASD See National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). . Zacks.com displays the Zacks Rank with permission from Zacks & Co. on its web site for individual investors. About Zacks Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research Zacks Investment Research A firm that compiles earnings estimates and brokerage firm investment recommendations for thousands of publicly traded firms. , Inc., which was formed in 1978 to compile, analyze, and distribute investment research to both institutional and individual investors. 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The S&P 500 includes the reinvestment of all dividends, no transaction costs Transaction Costs Costs incurred when buying or selling securities. These include brokers' commissions and spreads (the difference between the price the dealer paid for a security and the price they can sell it). , 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. |
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