Zacks Return On Equity Strategy Highlights: AMN Healthcare Services, Acuity Brands, Imperial Sugar Co. and Wellcare Health Plans.

CHICAGO -- One of the quickest ways to gauge whether a company is creating assets or gobbling up investor's cash is to look at their Return On Equity (ROE). The fast moving ROE Profit Track screening strategy from Zacks.com has generated an impressive return of +19.1% in 2005. In the first five months of 2006, it continued to outperform the S&P 500, returning 18.5% versus the S&P 500 rise of 5.0%. Four stocks meeting this screen's exclusive criteria are AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (NYSE: AHS), Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI), Imperial Sugar Co. (Nasdaq: IPSU) and Wellcare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG). View the entire list of stocks for the ROE Profit Track at http://at.zacks.com/?id=1853

Here are details about four companies currently identified by the ROE Profit Track:

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (NYSE: AHS) reported third-quarter earnings of 28 cents per share in early November. The result outperformed the consensus estimate by approximately 27% and surpassed last year's result. AMN Healthcare Services' earnings per share have been ahead analysts expectations for the past five straight quarters. AHS has a ROE of 15.32 and a price to sales ratio of 0.89.

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI), which has a ROE of 21.76 and a price to sales ratio of 0.98, recently announced record fiscal first-quarter results for net sales, net income, and earnings per diluted share. AYI's First-quarter earnings per share totaled 77 cents, exceeding the consensus estimate by roughly 20% and improving on last year's 48 cents per share.

Imperial Sugar Co. (Nasdaq: IPSU) recently posted fiscal fourth-quarter financial results, stating that industry dynamics were very favorable to the company and enabled it to improve margins across all channels to very acceptable levels. Earnings per share totaled $1.34, reversing the previous year's loss of 26 cents and topping the consensus estimate by approximately 52%. The company's ROE stands at 30.37 and its price to sales ratio is 0.31.

Wellcare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) meets the criteria for this Profit Track with a ROE of 24.00 and a price to sales ratio of 0.98. The company will announce financial results for the fourth quarter and year-end 2006 on February 13, 2007. In early November, WCG released third-quarter earnings of $1.06 per share, beating analysts' forecasts of 94 cents and more than doubling the year-ago result.

Discover all the current stocks currently on the ROE Profit Track at: http://at.zacks.com/?id=1854

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 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. 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=2156

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=1841

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 and 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.