Zacks.com Announces that Dan Sullivan Highlights the Following Issues: Artisan Small Cap, Kroll, Axcelis Technologies, DSP Group, and Amerigroup

Business Wire, May 12, 2004

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2004

Historically-speaking, Dan Sullivan says the odds favor a continuation of the bull market even after the Fed's first rate hike. So don't let your emotion get the better of you, and make sure to continue capitalizing on this market through this expert's mutual fund information. Read about Artisan Small Cap (OTC:ARTSX), Kroll, Inc. (NASDAQ:KROL), Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ:ACLS), DSP Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DSPG), and Amerigroup Corp. (NYSE:AGP). Click here for the full story exclusively on Zacks.com: http://at.zacks.com/?id=84

Here are the highlights from the Featured Expert column:

Market Commentary from May 6

From a historical standpoint, the threat that the Fed will soon begin the process of raising interest rates does not dictate the demise of this bull market. Dan Sullivan says this because, in the majority of instances over the past 50 years, stocks were higher over the next six to twelve months after the Fed raised rates for the first time. On balance, the peak did not come for another eight months after the first rate increase.

Putting it all together, it continues to be Sullivan's contention that this bull market, although mature, still has a lot of life left in it.

A Featured Fund

Artisan Small cap (OTC:ARTSX) has been managed by Carlene Murphy Ziegler since the fund's inception in March 1995. The fund's investment strategy is to pursue long-term capital growth through a diversified portfolio of small stocks. Ziegler and the fund's team are looking for companies with earnings growth of more than 15% per year; have competitive advantages; and offer a return on invested capital. The fund currently holds 81 stocks; some of the top holdings (as of 3/31/04) are: Kroll, Inc. (NASDAQ: KROL) (2%); Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ: ACLS) (1.8%); DSP Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSPG) (1.8%); and Amerigroup Corp. (NYSE: AGP) (1.7%). The fund, which currently has total assets of $166.8 million, offers a 6.98% year-to-date return, and a five-year average return of 10.39%. It is currently ranked #42 in its category, and is considered an average risk. Its best one-year total return occurred in 2003, with it closing up 43.52%. Its best three-year total return was for the period from 1999 to 2002, in which it finished up 9.66%.

Get more of Dan Sullivan's information on Artisan Small Cap, and read about two more featured funds by clicking: http://at.zacks.com/?id=85

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