Zacks Buy List Highlights: WellCare Health Plans, Inc., Union Pacific Corporation, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. and Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.CHICAGO -- Zacks.com releases the latest list of Zacks Rank Buy Stocks. Everyday on Zacks.com, four stocks are selected based on how well they match the criteria for the four main schools of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum and Value. The four Zacks Rank Buy stocks highlighted today are WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : WCG WCG World Cyber Games WCG Worldwide Church of God WCG World Community Grid WCG Wellington Caving Group (caving club in New Zealand) WCG Washington Calligraphers Guild WCG West Coast Grocery ), Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP Unp The symbol for the element unnilpentium. ), Sinclair Broadcast Group The Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG) NASDAQ: SBGI is the operator of the largest number of local television stations in the United States with a total of 59 stations across the country in 38 primarily small and medium markets, many of which are located in the South and , Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI SBGI Society of British Gas Industries ), and Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE: OHI OHI Other Health Insurance OHI Other Health Impaired OHI Oral Hygiene Index OHI oral hygiene instruction OHI Organizational Health Inventory (USA) OHI Oil Heat Institute OHI Ocala Heart Institute OHI Obsolete Hardware Interface ). Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of +31.8% 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%. To see the full Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) List, or the rank for any other stock, visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=88 Here is a synopsis of today's Zacks Rank Buy Stocks: Aggressive Growth - WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) As a result of the company's strong quarter, earnings estimates have been on the upswing Upswing An upward turn in a security's price after a period of falling prices. for WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Over the past week, this year's estimates have jumped 21 cents to $4.11 per share. WCG has beaten analyst expectations for 10 straight quarters, with seven of them posting double-digit surprises. Four analysts have raised their forecasts for the current year. Growth & Income - Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) Union Pacific Corporation exceeded analysts' earnings expectations for the past 10 quarters. Financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2006 were solid. Analysts have upped their profit forecasts for both this year and next. The Board of Directors recently authorized a share repurchase Share Repurchase A program by which a company buys back its own shares from the marketplace, reducing the number of outstanding shares. This is usually an indication that the company's management thinks the shares are undervalued. program and raised its quarterly dividend by 17% to 35 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. . UNP is currently yielding 1.2%. Momentum - Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) On Feb 14, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. reported fourth-quarter earnings at nine cents per share. Revenues jumped 10.8% to $198.1 million from $178.8 million. On Wednesday the company gapped higher on the open and set a new 52-week high close on more than twice normal volume. Value - Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE: OHI) Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. recently reported solid results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2006. The consensus estimate for this year has risen over the past 30 days. The Board of Directors recently boosted its quarterly cash dividend by a penny to 26 cents per common share of stock. This Zacks #1 Rank stock has a price-to-book ratio of 3.3, compared to 4.9 for the market. 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 Since 1988, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." A $10,000 investment in the Zacks Rank list made in 1988 would now be worth $1.77 million - equivalent to a 31.8% annualized annualized Of or relating to a variable that has been mathematically converted to a yearly rate. Inflation and interest rates are generally annualized since it is on this basis that these two variables are ordinarily stated and compared. return! 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 143.6% annually (+4.8% 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 Rank Buy stocks and highlights those stocks poised to outperform the market. Subscribe to Verb 1. subscribe to - receive or obtain regularly; "We take the Times every day" subscribe, take buy, purchase - obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction; "The family purchased a new car"; "The conglomerate acquired a new company"; this free newsletter today by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=90. 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 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 http://at.zacks.com/?id=91 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 Reinvestment Using dividends, interest and capital gains earned in an investment or mutual fund to purchase additional shares or units, rather than receiving the distributions in cash. 1. In terms of stocks, it is the reinvestment of dividends to purchase additional shares. 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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