Zacks Earnings and Margins Strategy highlights: Ansoft Corp., Barrett Business Services, TransGlobe Energy Corp. and World Acceptance Corp.CHICAGO -- Earnings are the single most important metric for a company. Combine that with a healthy Net Profit Margin and you find a screen that has generated a cumulative return of +464% since January 2001. For the first five months of 2006, this Profit Track has returned 8.5%. This screen is called the Earnings and Margins Profit Track strategy. Here are four stocks meeting this screen's exclusive criteria: Ansoft Corp. (Nasdaq: ANST ANST Association of Neuropsychology Students in Training ANST After Negative Skin Test ), Barrett Business Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBSI BBSI Bioengineering and Bioinformatics Summer Institute (NIH-NSF) BBSI Black Belt Schools International BBSI Beauty and Barber Supply Institute, Inc ), TransGlobe Energy Corp. (AMEX AMEX See: American Stock Exchange : TGA See TARGA. TGA - Targa Graphics Adaptor ) and World Acceptance Corp. (Nasdaq: WRLD). View the entire list of stocks for the Earnings and Margins Profit Track at http://at.zacks.com/?id=1858 Here are four companies that meet the following Earnings and Margin Profit Track: Ansoft Corp. (Nasdaq: ANST) recently released fiscal first-quarter results. Earnings per share of nine cents (on a GAAP GAAP See: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles GAAP See generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). basis) nearly doubled last year's five cents and topped the consensus estimate by almost 29%. The company mentioned that revenue and earnings growth were strong, adding that it anticipates continued revenue growth of around 10% -15% for the next fiscal quarter. ANST produced annual profits last year that were 92% higher than the year-prior. Barrett Business Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBSI) announced second-quarter earnings of 36 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. , improving the previous year's 31 cents and exceeding the consensus estimate of 35 cents. BBSI stated that it expects third-quarter earnings to range between 47 cents and 49 cents per share. Analysts are forecasting earnings of 48 cents for the third quarter, one penny higher than the estimates of two months ago. The company's annual earnings grew 53% compared to the previous year. TransGlobe Energy Corp. (AMEX: TGA) boasts year-over-year earnings per share growth of 230%. The company also enjoys healthy profits as evidenced by its net margin of 0.34. In early August, TransGlobe Energy posted second-quarter earnings of 12 cents per share, doubling the previous year's six cents and eclipsing the consensus by approximately 9%. World Acceptance Corp. (Nasdaq: WRLD), a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) company, delivered annual profits that were 16% higher the year-prior. The company's net margin stands at 0.16. In late July, WRLD reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of 53 cents per share, improving on the year-ago total of 38 cents and jumping ahead of analysts' expectations by 23%. The company noted that loan demand accelerated over the last three quarters. Discover all the current stocks currently on the Earnings and Margin Profit Track at: http://at.zacks.com/?id=1859 About Profit Tracks What is a "Profit Track"? Each Profit Track is a successful stock picking strategy with proven results through the Bear Market of 2001-2002 and the Bull run started in 2003. On Zacks.com we have created these nine unique screens to offer investors great strategies to potentially outperform Outperform An analyst recommendation meaning a stock is expected to do slightly better than the market return. Notes: Exact definitions vary by brokerage, but in general this rating is better than neutral and worse than buy or strong buy. the market in the years ahead. For the first five months of 2006, the Low Price Stocks strategy was the top performing Profit Track with a return of +22.2% followed by the Discounted Fundamental screen with a +18.6% return. To see all nine strategies along with philosophy, past performance, and current stocks, go to http://at.zacks.com/?id=1838 All the Profit Track strategies were created and backtested using the Research Wizard software from Zacks Investment Research Zacks Investment Research A firm that compiles earnings estimates and brokerage firm investment recommendations for thousands of publicly traded firms. . If you like this screening strategy, but want to narrow down the list of stocks and even improve the performance, then you should start a free trial to this powerful stock picking tool. Learn more about the Research Wizard free trial offer and our new special report "Top 10 Stock Screening Strategies" at http://at.zacks.com/?id=1993 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! 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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 (networking) disclaimer - Statement ritually appended to many Usenet postings (sometimes automatically, by the posting software) reiterating the fact (which should be obvious, but is easily forgotten) that the article reflects its author's opinions and not necessarily those of the : 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 solicitation In criminal law, the act of asking, inducing, or directing someone to commit a crime. The person soliciting another becomes an accomplice to the crime. 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