Zacks.com featured expert Kevin Matras highlights: Perini Corporation, Rural/Metro Corporation and Wesco Int'l.

CHICAGO -- Kevin Matras goes over his 'Big Money' screening strategy that has trounced the market in every year over the last five years. Stocks in this week's article are: Perini Corp. (NYSE:PCR), Rural/Metro Corp. (NASDAQ:RURL) and Wesco International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC). Click here for the full story exclusively on Zacks.com: http://at.zacks.com/?id=109

Screen of the Week written by Kevin Matras of Zacks Investment Research:

Kevin Matras has published this screen several times over the last couple of years and it's one of his favorite screens to trade. It's a price momentum screen that finds stocks on the move. But with a Price to Sales ratio added to it, these movers are still considered 'bargains'.

The parameters are:

--Price/Sales ratio less than .5

(A low price to sales ratio (below 1.0 for example) is usually thought to be a better value, since the investor is paying less for each unit of sales.)

--Average Broker Rating less than 2

(Strong Buys and varying degrees of average Strong Buys. Kevin wants the analysts on board.)

--Avg. 20 Day Volume greater than or equal to 50,000

(It has to be tradable.)

--Percent Change in Price over 24 weeks Top# 20

(Looking for the top 20 price performers out of the above list.)

--Percent Change in Price over 12 weeks Top# 10

(Looking for the top 10 price performers out of the above list.)

--Percent Change in Price over 4 weeks Top# 3

(Looking for the three best price gainers out of the above list.)

The results:

In 2001, (using a 4-week rebalancing period) the average annualized gross return was 128.9% with an average win ratio (winning periods) of 64%. In 2002, the average annualized gross return was over 262.1% with an average win ratio of 70%. In 2003, the average annualized gross return was over 269.7% with an average win ratio of 77%. In 2004, the average annualized gross return was 48.4% with a 65% win ratio. And so far in 2005 (YTD -- thru 9/30/05), the average cumulative gross returns are 34.3% with a 66% win ratio.

Aside from the big returns, one of the main benefits of this screen is that it generates the same number of qualified stocks each period (three).

This week's three picks are (for the week of 10/17/05):

PCR Perini, Corp.

RURL Rural/Metro, Corp.

WCC Wesco International, Inc.

(Even though Kevin originally designed this screen to be rebalanced every four weeks, it also tests well on a one-week basis too.)

This screen 'Big Money' can be found in the Research Wizard by going to:

'Screen' on your Menu Bar

'Open Screen Definition'

Double-clicking the 'SoW' folder 

Selecting the file: bt_sow big money

Use this screening strategy as it is or try and improve upon it yourself. Either way, incorporating some or all of these ideas could dramatically super-charge your portfolio.

And remember, the key to successful screening and trading is in discovering those screens that have produced profitable results in the past. And that's exactly what you get with the powerful Backtesting ability of the Research Wizard. Sign up now for a free two week trial. http://at.zacks.com/?id=111

Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.

About Screen of the Week

Zacks.com created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the "#1 site for screening stocks" by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use. Each week, Zacks Profit from the Pros free email newsletter shares a new screening strategy. Learn more about it here http://at.zacks.com/?id=112

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