CHICAGO, Oct 22, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- 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 +21.4% in 2005. In 2006, it continued to outperform the S&P 500, returning 27.0% versus the S&P 500 rise of 16.7%. Four stocks meeting this screen's exclusive criteria are The Andersons, Inc. (ANDE), Bunge Ltd. (BG), Fluor Corporation (FLR) and The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (PBG) . 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:
The Andersons, Inc. (ANDE) is involved in the grain, ethanol and plant nutrient sectors of U.S. agriculture. Earlier this month, the company raised its full-year guidance to between $3.15 and $3.35 per share, versus its previous outlook of $2.90 to $3.15. The increase was attributed to positive market factors in the agriculture industry. The Andersons appears to have momentum moving forward and is creating assets, as underscored by its ROE of 20.35. In addition, its price-to-sales ratio of 0.48 suggests it is a good value. The company is scheduled to report its third-quarter results on Oct 31.
Bunge Ltd. (BG), a leading global agribusiness and food company, will report its third quarter results this week. The company is in one of the market's hottest sectors, benefiting from strong demand and solid industry fundamentals. In addition, with an ROE of approximately 12.3%, Bunge is creating assets and taking advantage of the industry's opportunities. It expects solid market conditions in agribusiness and fertilizer for the rest of 2007. Earnings estimates for the third quarter and full year are both up from three months ago, increasing about 3.6% and 9.6%, respectively.
Fluor Corporation (FLR) qualifies for this profit track with an ROE of approximately 16%. (This screen demands an ROE of greater than or equal to 10%.) Furthermore, the company enjoys a price-to-sales ratio of 0.98, suggesting that it's still a good value at a price of more than $160 a share. Fluor is scheduled to report its third-quarter results in early November. During its second-quarter report, the company raised its full-year earnings per share guidance to between $4 and $4.20, compared to the prior outlook of between $3.50 and $3.80. Two highlights of the quarter included new project awards of $5.8 billion and consolidated backlog of $25.7 billion, up 43% year over year.
The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (PBG) announced a strong third-quarter performance earlier this month, including earnings per share, excluding items, of 99 cents, which bettered the consensus by more than 11%. The result also advanced from the previous year. Revenue gained 8% to $3.7 billion. Due to the strong performance, Pepsi Bottling Group raised its earnings outlook for the year. The Zacks #1 Rank stock watched its earnings estimates for this year appreciate by 4.3% over the past month. PBG makes the grade for this profit track with a ROE of approximately 23% and a price-to-sales ratio of 0.70.
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. In 2006, the Low Price Stocks strategy was the top performing Profit Track with a return of +56.5% followed by the Discounted Fundamental screen with a +34% return. To see all nine strategies along with philosophy, past performance and current stocks, go to http://at.zacks.com/?id=1838 .
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The performance of the Zacks Rank portfolios shown above for annual and year-to-date periods are the linked monthly total returns (price changes + dividends) of equal weighted hypothetical portfolios, consisting of those stocks with the indicated Zacks Rank, assuming monthly rebalancing and zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios. The hypothetical portfolios were created at the beginning of each month from Jan 1988 forward based on the values of the Zacks Rank available to Zacks' clients before the beginning of each month. The portfolios created monthly from 1988 through September 2006 exclude ADRS and are comprised of stocks that have the indicated Zacks Rank and were covered by at least two analysts at the time of the stocks inclusion in the portfolio. Starting in October 2006 and going forward, the portfolios are comprised of all stocks with the indicated Zacks Rank and do not exclude ADRs, which is more reflective of the list of stocks that customers will find on the Zacks web sites. 2007 returns are for the period of Jan 1 - Jun 30, 2007. These performance numbers have been audited from 1995 through 2003 by Autschuler Melovan, a division of American Express Financial.
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Copyright Business Wire 2007 ********************************************************************** As of Thursday, 10-18-2007 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrend Alert, an automated pattern recognition system, indicated an UPTREND on 08-31-2007 for BG @ $91.52. As of Thursday, 10-18-2007 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrend Alert, an automated pattern recognition system, indicated an UPTREND on 08-22-2007 for FLR @ $122.08. As of Thursday, 10-18-2007 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrend Alert, an automated pattern recognition system, indicated an UPTREND on 08-24-2007 for PBG @ $35.54. For more information on SmarTrend, contact your market data provider or go to www.mysmartrend.com SmarTrend is a registered trademark of Comtex News Network, Inc. Copyright 2004-2007 Comtex News Network, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Rosen Law Firm Files Securities Class Action Charging Fuwei Films (Holdings) Co., Ltd. With Violations of the Federal Securities Laws -- FFHL Friday October 19, 8:45 pm ET
NEW YORK, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Oct 19, 2007 -- The Rosen Law Firm today announced that it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all purchasers of Fuwei Films (Holdings) Co., Ltd. ("FFHL" or the "Company") (NasdaqGM:FFHL - News) stock from the date of the Company's Initial Public Offering (the "IPO") on December 19, 2006 through October 16, 2007 (the "Class Period"). To join the FFHL class action, go to the website at http://www.rosenlegal.com or call Laurence Rosen, Esq. or Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email lrosen@rosenlegal.com or pkim@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
The case is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as case no. 07-CV-9416. You can obtain a copy of the complaint from the clerk of court or you may contact counsel for plaintiffs Laurence Rosen, Esq. or Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email lrosen@rosenlegal.com or pkim@rosenlegal.com.
NO CLASS HAS YET BEEN CERTIFIED IN THE ABOVE ACTION. UNTIL A CLASS IS CERTIFIED, YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL UNLESS YOU RETAIN ONE. YOU MAY ALSO REMAIN AN ABSENT CLASS MEMBER.
The complaint charges that FFHL and certain of its present and former officers, directors, and control persons violated Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 by issuing a false and misleading Registration Statement and Prospectus (collectively the "Registration Statement") in connection with the Company's IPO.
According to the Complaint, on December 19, 2006 the Company commenced its IPO priced at $8.28 per share for 3,750,000 shares of Company stock. On December 22, 2006 FFHL announced the closing of its IPO and reported gross proceeds, including over-allotments, of approximately $35.6 million. The Complaint asserts that FFHL's Registration Statement was false and misleading because the Company: (i) failed to reveal that its main operating assets were obtained through transactions that may not have been valid under Chinese law; (ii) failed to provide complete disclosures as to the circumstances of the Company's acquisition of its main operating assets; and (iii) inaccurately stated that the likelihood of any action or recourse in connection with the Company's acquisition of its main operating assets was remote.
The Complaint further alleges that on June 25, 2007 the Company announced that three of the Company's major shareholders, one of whom is a Company director, were under investigation. On October 16, 2007 the Company announced that authorities in China had issued arrest notices for the same three individuals on suspicion of violations of Chinese laws and regulations. The Complaint asserts that these charges related to the Company's acquisition of its main operating assets. As a result of these adverse disclosures, FFHL's stock price dropped, damaging investors.
A class action lawsuit has already been filed on behalf of FFHL shareholders. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 18, 2007. If you wish to join the litigation or to discuss your rights or interests regarding this class action, please contact plaintiff's counsel, Laurence Rosen, Esq. or Phillip Kim, Esq. of The Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via e-mail at lrosen@rosenlegal.com or pkim@rosenlegal.com.
The Rosen Law Firm has expertise in prosecuting investor securities litigation and extensive experience in actions involving financial fraud. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the nation, concentrating its practice in securities class actions.
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