Zacks Buy List Highlights: NS Group, Inc., Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., Trident Microsystems, and United Online.

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com releases another list of stocks that are currently members of the coveted Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List. The #1 Rank stocks highlighted today are NS Group, Inc. (NYSE:NSS) and Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN). Further, Zacks announced #2 Rankings (Buy) on two other widely held stocks: Trident Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRID) and United Online, Inc. (NASDAQ:UNTD). 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 NSS and PTEN have a Zacks Rank of 1. Note that a #1 Strong Buy rating is applied to only 5% of all the stocks Zacks ranks:

NS Group, Inc. (NYSE:NSS) earnings estimates for the year ending December 2005 climbed 61 cents, or 12%, from two months ago. In late July, the company released its second-quarter reported, which stated that demand for and pricing of its energy products continued to benefit from the healthy drilling environment that exists in North America. The report included earnings per share of $1.65, an improvement over last year's earnings for the second quarter. The result also topped the consensus estimate of $1.28 per share.

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN) announced second-quarter earnings of 45 cents per share in late July, more than tripling last year's 12 cents and exceeding the consensus estimate by almost 10%. The company commented that customer demand for its drilling services has continued to increase and available land drilling rigs remain scarce, resulting in further improvement in pricing for these services. Analysts have issued upward revisions of full year 2005 earnings estimates. Current estimates of $1.99 per share are above one month ago levels by 10 cents, or about 5%.

Here is a synopsis of why TRID and UNTD have a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). Note that a #2 Buy rating is applied to 15% of all the stocks ranked by Zacks:

Trident Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRID) posted fiscal fourth-quarter pro forma earnings of nine cents per share in late July, outperforming last year's two cents and surpassing the consensus estimate by almost 29%. The company noted that as it looks into 2006 its prospects for market share expansion are promising. Earnings estimates for the year ending June 2006 moved up 23 cents, or about 35%, from two months ago.

United Online, Inc. (NASDAQ:UNTD) reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of 27 cents in early August. The result outpaced last year's 25 cents and was ahead of the consensus estimate by nearly 4%. The company mentioned that its strong quarterly performance, which resulted in its 16th consecutive quarter of record revenues, was driven by United Online's growing interactive content business. Full year 2005 earnings estimates advanced four cents, or almost 4%, over the past 60 trading days.

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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 143.5% annually (+4.9% vs. +12%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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