Zacks Buy List Highlights: Enterprise Products Partners L.P., Catalina Marketing Corporation, Check Free Corporation and Yellow Roadway Corporation

Business Wire, Dec 14, 2004

CHICAGO -- Zacks.com releases another list of stocks that are currently members of the coveted Zacks #1 Ranked list. The #1 ranked stocks highlighted today include the following companies: Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) and Catalina Marketing Corporation (NYSE:POS). Further they announced #2 Rankings (Buy) on two other widely held stocks: Check Free Corporation (NASDAQ:CKFR) and Yellow Roadway Corporation (NASDAQ:YELL). To see the full Zacks #1 Ranked list or the rank for any other stock then visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Stocks ranked #1 (Strong Buys) by Zacks have produced an average annual return of +32.9% since inception in 1988. During the recent Bear market from 2000 through 2002, the Zacks #1 Ranked stocks gained +43.8% while the S&P 500 tumbled -37.6%.

Here is a synopsis of why these stocks have a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). Note that a #1 Strong Buy rating is applied to 5% of all the stocks Zacks ranks:

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) announced its financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2004. Enterprise reported net income of $61.3 million, or 21 cents per unit on a fully diluted basis, for the third quarter of 2004 compared to a net loss of ($3.3 million), or a loss of (4 cents) per unit, for the third quarter of 2003. Over the last 60 days earnings for EPD have risen 7 cents or about +9%. Enterprise Products is excited about the amount of organic growth opportunities available to the combined businesses as the GulfTerra assets become integrated.

Catalina Marketing Corporation (NYSE:POS): Estimates for fiscal full year 2005 have modestly increased by 3 cents over the last month after fiscal second quarter news was reported in November. On a pro forma non-GAAP basis, consolidated revenues were $102.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004, compared with $100.3 million of revenues for the same period last year. Pro forma non-GAAP consolidated net income was $18.9 million, or 36 cents per diluted share, compared with $14.2 million of net income, or 27 cents per diluted share, for the same period last year. This result also beat the consensus by +44%. The results achieved in the second quarter were encouraging, and reinforced investors' belief that their strategy to focus on proprietary applications at the point of sale is key to long-term growth and prosperity.

Here is a synopsis of why these stocks have a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). Note that a #2 Buy rating is applied to 15% of all the stocks ranked by Zacks:

CheckFree Corporation (NASDAQ:CKFR): For the year ending June 2005, earnings estimates are up by 2 cents, or almost +2%, from one month ago, and are up 4 cents, or about +3%, from 60 days ago. The company posted fiscal first quarter underlying earnings of 29 cents per share, topping the consensus by about +11%. Revenue of $177.8 million advanced +26% over the same period last year. The company said it showed steady performance from Investment Services, while Software delivered better-than-expected sales during a traditionally slow quarter.

Yellow Roadway Corporation (NASDAQ:YELL) posted third quarter adjusted net income of $1.38 per share, compared to 75 cents per share for the same period last year. The third quarter result exceeded the consensus by about +2%. According to the company, all of their operating companies delivered another impressive quarter and it is well positioned to complete a very successful first year as Yellow Roadway. The company boosted its earnings per share outlook for the full year. Earnings estimates for the year ending December 2004 are up 2 cents, or almost 1%, from two months ago.

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About the Zacks Rank

For over 15 years, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Since inception in 1988 the #1 Ranked stocks have generated an average annual return of +32.9%. During the recent Bear market from 2000 through 2002, the Zacks #1 Ranked 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). And since 1988 the S&P 500 has outperformed the Zacks #5 Ranked Strong Sells by 168.2% annually (11.8% vs. 4.4% respectively). Thus, the Zacks Rank system can truly be used to effectively manage the portfolio trading.

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